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CHAPTER I. ■ 

6 
(^^"^y Introduction and Definition of Terms. 

Definition of terms. 

(a) Social force. A social force is any agent influencing man to action. 

1. Direct or indirect. Man on man, nature on man. 

2. Physical or spiritual. 

(b) The Scandinavians. Peoples occupying the countries of Norway', 

Denmark and Sweden. 

CHAPTER n. 

The Racial Characteristics and the Historical Setting of the 
Scandinavians. 

A. Physical characteristics. 
I. Origin of type. 

(a) Birth of traits in early movement of races. 

(b) Evolution of definite physical type. 

1. Head. 

2. Hair. 

3. Eyes. 

4. Stature. 

B. Physical characteristics. 

I. Evolution of definite psychic type. 

1. In early games, customs, practices. 

2. In poetry and romance. 
II. Psychic type. 

(a) Description. 

1. Tragic conception of life. 

2. Intensely independent. 

(b) Psychic type interpreted in light of historic events. 

1. Introduction of Christianity. 

2. Trial by jury. 

3. Reformation. 

4. Suffrage. 

III. Most pronounced psychic trait. 

(a) Vandrelyst. Cause for vandrelyst. 

(b) Description of marauding trips. 

(c) Development of trait in modern history. 



SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

C. Historical setting of the Scandinavians. 

I. Brief summary of Scandinavian History. 

(a) Early period. Norway, Denmark and Sweden — 1300 A. D. 

(b) Middle period. Norway, Denmark and Sweden — 1300-1700 A. D. 

(c) Later period. Norway, Denmark and Sweden — 1700 A. D. 

n. Relationship of Scandinavian to Universal history. Distinctive points 
of contact with other nations. 

(a) Russia. 

(b) England. 

(c) France. 

(d) Byzantium. 

(e) Mediterranean countries. 

(f) Greenland. 

(g) Iceland, 
(h) America. 

1. Reformation period. 

2. Napoleonic period. 

D. Conclusion. 

I. Scandinavian old-world contribution. 
H. Scandinavian new-world contribution. 

CHAPTER HI. 

Scandinavian Immigration. 
I. Reasons for leaving Scandinavian countries. 
II. Time. 

III. Number, 

IV. Location. 

Above chapter a historical sketch of the Scandinavian immigration. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Scandinavians in America. 
(Potential or Latent Force.') 
A. Influence. 

(a) Depends on their Americanization; i. e., mixing, hence 

(b) Extent of Scandinavian custom, language and religion. 

(c) Means taken to keep Scandinavians true to their customs, language 

and religion. 

1. Parochial schools. 

2. National societies. 

3. Scandinavian press. 

4. Scandinavian in public schools and universities. 



IN AMERICA 

B. Means of Americanization. 
I. Direct agencies. 

(a) Public school. 

(b) Business. 

(c) Political gatherings. 

(d) American press. 

(e) Co-laborers with Americans. (Contact.) 
II. Indirect agencies. 

(a) Prestige of English in social, literary and political life. 

(b) Ambition to conform to higher standard of dominant race. 

C. Desirability or Undesirability of Americanization. 

I. Should Americanize in a natural but not forced manner. 
II. Natural Americanization. 

(a) Stage one: period following their immediate landing, when results 

of foreign training are manifest in thoughts, words and deeds. 

(b) Stage two: Scandinavian-American may be foreign mentioned in 

Chapter V. 

(c) Third and final stage in Americanizing: 

1. American by birth. 

2. American by environment. 

CHAPTER V. 

Scandinavian Influence in America. 
(Considered as an economic force.) 

A. Scandinavian influence in the material development of the country. 

(a) Importance of agriculture to America. 

(b) Aptitude for agriculture. 

(c) Their selection of our best agricultural land. 

(d) Leading traits as farmers. 

(e) Scandinavians establish permanent homes, which are to-day among the 

best. 

B. Scandinavians' influence in technical branches and other manufactures. 

(a) Technical schools of Scandinavian countries the cause of their influence. 

(b) Influence especially noted in civil engineering. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Political and Social Influence of Scandinavians on Americans and of 
Americans on Scandinavians. 
A. Poltical influence. 

1. Love of liberty. 

2. Their law-abiding nature. 

3. Independent in politics: Farmers' Alliance, People's Party and the 



present Progressive Party largely originated and had their 
stronghold in Scandinavian territory. 

4. Same characteristics seen in their "Vandrelyst" and Viking nature. 

5. Scandinavians responded readily and ably to the call of our country 

at the time of the Civil War. 

6. Universally defenders of law, government, order and peace. 

B. Social and Cultural Influence. 

(b) In journalism. 

(c) Religious influence. 

(d) The social life of Scandinavians. 

C. Scandinavians and Education in America. 

(a) Nature of their schools. (Religious.) 

(b) Classificktion. 

D. Nature and number of charitable institutions owned and controlled by 

Scandinavians. 

E. Influence of America on Scandinavians. 

(a) Scandinavians lose their national traits, thus 

(b) They are merged with the other race, and 

(c) Thus the American Nation is made. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Probable Influence on the Future Making of the American Race Through 
Immigrants in General and Through Scandinavians in Particular. 

A. Inflvjence of general immigration. 

(a) Depends on character of immigrants. 

(b) Depend on the number of immigrants. 

(c) Should aim to reduce the number and raise the standard for admis- 

sion of immigrants. 

B. Scandinavian Influence. 

I. Probable influence will be less because : 

(a) American conditions more firmly established. 

(b) American and Scandinavian conditions more alike than formerly. 

(c) Immigration has decreased in recent years. 

(Above considers the influence of the recently arrived immigrants.) 

II. Probable influence of Scandinavian-Americans greater in future than in 
past, because : 
(a) They have been educated in American Schools, and are thus better 
qualified for influential activities. 
(Above considers the influence of the Americanized immigrants.) 



CHAPTER I. 

Scandinavians as a Social Force in America. 
Introduction and Definition of Terms. 

The terms to be defined are "A Social Force" and "Scandinavians;" 
in order that the purpose of the thesis may be better understood, an 
introductory discussion is given of "Society." 

There are many attempts at defining "Society." What are the 
constituent elements of society? "What is society?" and many snnilar 
questions have been much discussed and variously answered. Some 
sociologists hold that the individual is the unit of society. Others 
that it is the social actions of men that constitutes society. In the 
first instance we would have men en masse, in the second they would 
be associated, influencing and being influenced. As the subject does 
not call for an extended discussion of the writer on what society is, a 
few of the sociologists will be quoted on the subject. 

Stuckenberg, "The Science of Human Society," volume I, p. 78, 
"The words used for 'society' in the languages derived from the Latin 
have the same origin and fundamental idea as the English word. The 
German Gesellschaft is from gesellen, to associate, to be companions to 
one another — essentially the same sense as the Latin. The fundamental 
sense in the etymology of the various words is, therefore, that some- 
thing is held in common or shared by a number of individuals. 
Society, then, is an association, a compound, a connection, formed 
through persons, by means of which a new combination is created or a 
relation instituted which did not exist before the individuals were 
associated." Same author, p. 79 : "In thus seeking to make society 
interpret its meaning to us, we are impressed w^ith the manifold 
diversity in human association. Eliminating all wherein associations 
differ, the residue is their common identity or that essential element 
which constitutes society itself. This method proves that individuals 

3 



4 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

are indispensable. But the kind of individuals, provided they are of 
a suitable age, is a matter of indifference, w^hether young or old, w^hite 
or black, intelligent or ignorant, religious or atheistic. Equally indiffer- 
ent is the purpose of association. This, then, is the fundamental idea 
of society : the fact of association, or being associated regardless of 
time, place, circumstances, aim and the character of the associated." 

P. 80. (Stuckenberg) "Private action becomes social so soon as it 
in any way exerts an influence on others than the actor. Take any body 
of men recognized as a society ; it will be found that they act and react 
on one another, they give and take. This mental interaction is the new 
factor which does not exist when men are isolated. Society, then, is 
created whenever men pass from isolation to a relation of co-operation 
or antagonism, of mutuality and reciprocity ; they affect each other as 
stimuli." P. 81. "Human beings do not form society because they 
live in the same neighborhood, nor because their bodies come in con- 
tact. No bond exists in the outer world which can associate them. If 
men were tied together in bundles, we should have bundles of men, 
but no societies. Society can be constituted only by bringing the inner 
world of persons into relation with one another. It can be the result 
only of the reciprocal communication of these inner worlds ; for pri- 
marily human beings confront each other as bodies whose manifestations 
must be interpreted in order to learn the contents of the inner worlds." 
R. Von Schubert-Soldern, Zeitschrift fiir die Gessammte Staats Wissen- 
schaft, 1899, p. 57. 

P. 84. (Stuckenberg) "Society is not the product of the being, but 
of the action of men. Its genesis depends solely on what men do to one 
another and together. . . . Society now looms up before us as 
that great mental life which men constitute through their influence on 
each other, — that world of vast extant and incalculable value in which 
sociology dwells." 

Society is so commonly regarded as composed of individuals that 
no proof is needed for the statement. When this view is attacked 
people are astonished ; no other view is deemed possible. It is the 
conception which underlies the common statement that society is an 
aggregation or a collection of individuals. A few quotations are given 
of the current view. 



IN AMERICA 5 

In "Society Science and Social Schemes," MacClelland speaks, p. 4, 
of "the individuals who compose society ;" and p. 24 he calls indi- 
viduals the social units or the atoms of society." 

Giddings, "Elements of Sociology," p. 6: "A society is a number 
of like-minded individuals — socii^ — who know and enjoy their like- 
mindedness, and are therefore able to work together for common ends." 
This evidently applies only to formal organizations. Page 11: "The 
unit of investigation, then, in sociology is the socius — that is to say, the 
individual who is not only an animal and a conscious mind, but also a 
companion, a learner, a teacher, and a co-worker. Sociology studies 
the nature of the socius, his habits and his activities." In the chapter 
on "The Province of Sociology," p. 5, he speaks of individual personali- 
ties as the units and elements of association. 

P. 93 (Stuckenberg). Carroll D. Wright, "Practical Sociology," 
p. 3, also regards individuals as "the units which make up the int^igral 
members of society." Page 66 : "Every organization in society consists 
of individual units, and these must be brought into some relationship 
with each other before the lowest form of the social unit can be 
created." It is significant that here society is first made to consist 
of "individual units," and then of "some relationship" of these units 
with one another." 

Same author, p. 93 : "A picture can be taken of men grouped 
or aggregated, but not of society. If the impression is to be made 
that the group is not a mere aggregation, but a society, it will have 
to be represented by the attitude or action of the individuals. But the 
attitude or action introduced as a representative of society is very 
different from the society itself. Individuals can be photographed, but 
not the society formed by them." 

Mr. Spencer, in the first chapter of his "Inductions of Sociology," 
discusses, "What is Society?" "A society is but a collective name of 
a number of individuals." 

On p. 99 Stuckenberg says : "Simmel makes individuals the con- 
stituent elements of society, but at the same time makes society consist 
of the interaction of individuals on each other." He says: "Society 
is found wherever several individuals sustain to each other a relation 
of interaction (Wechselwirkung). For if society is to be a peculiar 



6 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

object, having its own science, it can be only because a new unity 
arises from the sum of the individuals which constitute society ; other- 
wise all the problems of the social science would only be problems of 
mdividual psychology. A unity composed of several elements is, how- 
ever, nothing but an interaction of these elements exercising the forces 
of cohesion, of attraction, perhaps, also, of a certain repulsion." 

The last definition of society is the one accepted by the writer as 
the best for the subject considered. In our nation we have the inter- 
action of individuals and races. The reciprocal influence presupposes 
that each individual in his relation to fellow men must be a social 
force ; hence the definition of our second term, "A social force." 

"A man's force is his personal wealth." Like other forms of 
wealth, it may be hoarded, it may be used for self, or for others. A 
social force would be what he gives up of himself for society. Stuck- 
enberg, p. 98 : "Let us call that part of himself which a person gives 
to society his social force." "Force" is an abstract term but indis- 
pensable for clearness. "Energy" or power can be substituted, but 
whatever word is used it always means that part of the individual 
which enters society, which exerts a psychical influence on others. 
Whatever one does to afifect others, that is his contribution to society 
and therefore his social force. In society we have nothing but the 
social forces of individuals in interaction with each other.' 

An exact interpretation of social force is impossible, as we do not 
fully know what individuals and societies are to, and receive from, one 
another. The important factor to be noted in our study is not so much 
the socii but their social forces, their influence and their capability of 
being influenced. The individual constitutes a social force and society 
is itself a force. 

"The individual is the particularizing social force. Society is the 
generalizing social force." — J. M. Baldwin. 

Man considered from the beginning, through his wonderful achieve- 
ments up to the present time reveals a mighty influence. He is subject 
to a diversity of energies as these may be found in man or nature. As 
every individual is unique, so must his social force be unique. In 
order to vmderstand the individual in his social relation, we must 
dift"erentiate his force and study it with its correlated forces. Again, 



IN AMERICA 7 

since an individual never repeats or duplicates a thought or an act 
we confront the enormity of an individual as a social force; though 
not the same, they are similar; vary in quality and degree at the 
various stages of civilization and natural surroundings. In every stage 
there is a general trend, a main thought generally directed by the 
"Zeit geist," which is clearly recognized. 

Stuckenberg, p. 195: "While no social force can be foreign to 
man, it is not implied that every social force is seen in each society or 
in an equal degree in every stage of culture. Man himself may have 
to undergo a process of humanizing. Whatever external stimuli are 
offered, he can respond to them only if there is an inner adaptation 
to the stim.uli. Hence we find physical and geographical conditions, 
race, heredity, and the social environment powerful factors in deter- 
mining the character of the forces. Culture in particular is a prominent 
feature. It cannot be successfully imitated. Certain forces belong to 
man as man, and they exist, though subject to modifications, in every 
stage of development. They appear wherever man enters into social 
relations. Other forces no less truly a product of man's nature, require 
for their manifestations in social life some degree of culture. Until 
this is reached they are in an embryonic form, existing potentially 
rather than actually. With good reason German ethnologists call 
peoples in a low stage of culture Naturvoelker, Nature-peoples; and 
those in a higher stage Culturvoelker, Culture-peoples. No break 
occurs in the process of development from the former to the latter, but 
the seeds and germs found in lower stages are unfolded, what is merely 
involved is evolved and its real character made fully manifest. Nothing 
existing in man in a state of nature, and essential to him as man, is 
foreign to society in a state of culture. But its form is changed, it 
enters new relations and combinations, and what was dominant in a 
state of nature may later be subordinated to what is higher and more 
significant." 

Stuckenberg, p. 206 f. : "Besides the forces which reign in man 
while in a state of nature, or the Constitutional forces, there is a 
third class, namely, the Fundamental. They are the forces which 
are necessary for the very existence of society, at least in certain stages 
of development and for the highest welfare. This class, the Funda- 



8 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

mental social forces, is treated as preliminary to the rest, and consists 
of two sub-divisions, the Economic and the Political forces. The 
Constitutional forces are those which spring directly from the constitu- 
tion of man and therefore exist in full operation among nature-peoples 
as well as among the cultured. They might also be called Elemental, 
because inherent in man, or Organic, because involved in his verv' 
organism. They are the Egotic, the Appetitive, and Affectional, and 
the Recreative. The third, or Cultural class, includes the forces 
inherent in man so far as capacity' is concerned; but for their full 
development and social efficiency may require culture. Under this head 
we have the Aesthetic, the Ethical, the Religious, and the Intellectual. 
This gives us ten forces, under three general heads, as follows : 

The Social Forces. 
I. Fundamental 

1. The Economic. 

2. The Political. 
II. Constitutional 

3. The Egotic. 

4. The Appetitive. 

5. The Affectional. 

6. The Recreative. 
III. Cultural 

7. The Aesthetic. 

8. The Ethical. 

9. The Religious. 
10. The Intellectual. 

Ratsenhofer. according- to Ross in the "Foundation of Sociology," 
p 166, employs the word interest for force. He distinguishes — 

(a) The race interest; i. e., the impulses which center in the 
reproductive functions. 

(b) The physiological interest; i. e., hunger and thirst. 

(c) The egotic interest; i. e., the entire circle of self-regarding 
motives. 

(d) The social interest. 

(e) The transcendental interest, which creates religion and phil- 
osophy. 



IN AMERICA 



9 



Dr. Ward in his "Pure Sociology," p. 261, makes the following 
(lassitication : 



Forces 



^ S / Onto^enitic 

o o 



< 
u 

> 

a:! 

Oh 



) Phylogenetic 
I Forces 



I Positive, Attractive (seeking pleasure) 
1 Negative, protective (avoiding pain) 

Direct, sexual 
Indirect, consanguineal 









< ^. 



Sociogenetic 
Forces 



Moral (seeking the safe and good) 
Asthetic (seeking the beautiful) 
Intellectual (seeking the useful and true) 



Ross in his "Foundations of Sociology," p. 168, suggests arranging 
the springs of action in two planes, instead of forcing them into one 
plane, under the general term of "desires." These may be divided into 
natural and cultural, the former present in all men, the latter emerging 
clearly only after man has made some gains in culture. The natural 
desires may be grouped into — 
(a) Appetitive. Hunger, thirst, and sex-appetite. 

(I)) Hedonic. Fear, aversion to pain, love of warmth, ease, and 
sensuous pleasure. 

(c) Egotic. These are demands of the self rather than of the organ- 

ism. They include shame, vanity, pride, envy, love of liberty, of 
power, and of glory. The type of this class is ambition. 

(d) Ajfectit'e. Desires that terminate upon others: sympathy, sociabil- 

ity, love, hate, spite, jealousy, anger, revenge. 
The cultural desires are : 

(e) Recreative. Play impulses, love of self-expression. 

(f) Religious. Yearning for those states of swimming or uncondi- 

tioned consciousness represented by the religious ecstasy. 



10 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

(g) Ethical. Love of fair play, sense of justice. 

(h) Aesthetic. Desire for the pleasures of perception; i. e., for enjoy- 
ment of "the beautiful." 
(i) Intellectual. Curiosity, love of knowing, of learning, and of 
imparting. 

"While the study of the natural wants belongs to anthropology, 
the development of cultural desires in connection with association and 
the presence of culture devolves upon sociology." 

El wood, "Sociology in Its Psychological Aspects," p. 284, says : 
"Ward's classification seems to be on the whole the most successful, and 
accordingly we shall give it here in a modified form as an example of 
a classification of the social forces according to the end which they 
serve in the collective life : 

Social Forces. 
Psychical Activities. 
I. Life-Preserving Activities : 

L Preserving the life of the individual, 

(a) connected with nutrition (food process) 

(b) connected with defense, 
(against inanimate nature), 
(against animate nature; 

2. Preserving the life of the species, 

(a) reproduction, 

(b) care of ofifspring. 
IL Life-Mitigating Activities : 

\. Moral — aiming at the good; 

2. Asthetic — aiming at the beautiful ; 

3. Intellectual — aiming at the true. 

From the foregoing outlines it appears that each sociologist has 
his conception as to the analysis of the social forces. That the view 
point of two writers and students can be the same is not to be expected, 
as they are not identical, the argument can not be — personal interest 
will lend color. Professor Ward's analysis of the social forces may be 
criticised for being based on Hedonism, and for serving philosophic 
purposes rather than for attaining practical ends. The outline of 



IN AMERICA 11 

Stuckenberg, Ross accepts as "excellent," when he eliminates the 
"Fundamental" forces — the Economic and the Political. He considers 
it an error "to list the desire for wealth among the original forces," 
and claims they are derivative. From Stuckenberg's definition of the 
fundamental, we note that they are the forces necessary "for the very 
existence of society," a fact clearly seen in the historical development 
of society. It is apparent that Stuckenberg expresses one fact by the 
term "fundamental" and Ross accepts and attributes to it another 
sense. 

The outline of Stuckenberg because of its practical side, is the one 
accepted as best adapted to this thesis. 

The third and last term to be defined is "Scandinavians." This 
term is used to designate the inhabitants of Norway, Sweden, Den- 
mark and Iceland. In early history they are treated as one people, and 
were commonly called Northmen or Norsemen. As we proceed in 
history the Scandinavians became more and more separated and 
discussed under the terms of Norwegians, Swedes, Danes and Ice- 
landers. In the consideration of the subject of this thesis, only the 
first three will be studied. 



CHAPTER 11. 

The Racial Characteristics and the Historical Setting of the 

Scandinavians. 

Different theories are advanced to account for the origin of the 
Scandinavian race; one, which until recent years held first place, was 
that the tall, fair-haired, dolichocephalic Teutons met the short, dark, 
long-headed Iberians on the Scandinavian peninsula some time during 
the era of Asiatic migrations westward into Europe. Another 
theory holds that the Nordic is a variety of the Eurafrican species, 
composed of Nordic, Mediterranean and African, and that all Europe 
was populated by migrations of peoples northward out of Africa. 
In whatever way the peoples of Scandinavia originated, however, they 
show to-day two distinct racial strains, the tall, light-haired Northern 
type and the short, dark-haired Mediterranean type. Side by side, 
these types, called Goths and Finners, or Germanic and Iberian types, 
must have persisted in long successive ages, for even to-day unmis- 
takable disparities are seen between the low statured, dark com- 
plexioned west-island Norwegians, Lapps and Finns, and the tall, light- 
haired, blue-eyed Norwegians, Danes and Swedes. As the latter 
predominate and since for the purpose of conciseness the Lapps and 
Finns have been excluded in the definition of the subject, the tall, fair, 
dolichocephalic Northman constitutes the physical type of the usual 
Scandinavian figure. 

Charles E. Woodruff, M.A., M.D., in his book, "The Effects of 
Tropical Light on White Man," discusses the adaptation of the 
species to their respective zones ; he says that living forms are distrib- 
uted in zones whose boundaries are isothermal. The species is limited 
in its northern and southern extension, though it may be found over 
considerable distances in East and West, it is never beyond its lateral 
zone. "Migration would be followed by extinction sooner or later, for 
acclimatization is not possible." That the above is the absolute truth 

12 



IN AMERICA 13 

is not established. Nothing has been discovered, however, to show 
that a progress of selection has been at work preserving a variation of 
species "not adjusted to its environment." Hence in the event of a 
migration to another zone, it may perish at once or it may die a "slow 
death," or live for generations before "accumulated injuries are fatal." 

If they are survivors of the descendants of the migrants, they 
constitute the result of the elimination of the unfit. These are, in the 
opinion of Mr. Woodruff, "a new form different from the migrated 
ancestor— that is, there has been the origin of a new species. This is 
the only way that acclimatization is possible — destruction of the old 
unacclimated or unadjusted form and the selection of a new adjusted 
or acclimated one." Man, like other "living forms," obeys the same 
natural laws, hence the special type of man found in one zone is not 
found in another, similar characteristics may be present, but in different 
degrees, and consequently combine differently, forming a new type. 
Agassiz taught that as acclimatization was impossible, "there was a 
separate divine creation of each type of man." Woodruff, p. 3. 

By the law of the survival of the fittest, there arose a separate type 
in each zoological zone and the respective type is unfitted for any 
other zone "different from the ancestral one." The intelligence of man 
enables him to appreciate the dangers of a climate and other natural 
difficulties and to prepare himself with proper protection, so that he 
may survive longer than other forms out of this zone. 

Under the caption "Purposes of Variations," he further discusses 
why their character is beneficial in a zone and "why a different char- 
acter arose in a different zone." By ascertaining the cause for this, we 
can understand why races fail to colonize beyond the borders of their 
ancestral zone, and informi'^ us how we may avoid the destructive 
factors if we are compelled by business to reside temporarily in a 
climate for which we are physically unfit. As examples of the physical 
conditions, he mentions the size of the nose and the position of th^ 
nostrils. In the tropics, where the air is hot and consequently rarified, 
more is necessary, hence "the nostrils are open and wide and the nose 
very flat," whereas in cold countries the passages must be so 
constructed as not to permit too much cold air and irritate the lining 
membrane, hence a nose with much warming service and nostrils as 
"slender slits." It is stated that the open tropical nostril was one reason 



14 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

for the prevalency of pulmonary trouble of Negroes out of the tropics. 
The conclusion, therefore, must be that there has been a natural 
selection in cold countries of one kind of variations and a different 
selection in hot countries representing the other extreme, thus the 
various types arose. Another feature pointed out by Mr. Woodruff, is 
that color due to the pigmentation of the skin, hair, retina, iris and 
blondness, enable men in the North to save heat and to keep warm, 
but was at a disadvantage in the tropics, as it kept men too wami. It 
is known that the Negroes in the North have greater difficulty in keep- 
ing warm than the white man. By applying the explanation of Mr. 
Woodruff, we may understand why Scandinavians are mostly blondes 
and have their physical characteristics; i. e.. nature has made them for 
their zone. Further consideration of the above facts will be found in 
the deductions of tlie last chapter. 

Tall. fair, dolichocephalic peoples have been said to possess certain 
psychic traits, to be impatient of control, dominant but loyal, swayed 
by deep ideals and to be originators of great ideas and workers for 
far ends. Thks is the psychic type of early Scandinavians. War train- 
ing and out-of-door games developed a spirit of resistance and virility 
in keeping with their tall bodies playing like gods, games of skill on 
fields illumined by flickering northern lights. 

"The outward look of the Norse and the Dane was much the 
same. Broad-shouldered, deep-chested, long-limbed, yet with slender 
waist, small hands and feet, their figures told of strength ; and so 
necessar>- was strength considered that puny infants were exposed and 
left to die. the healthy children alone being presers^ed. Their com- 
plexion, their hair and eyes, were fair — and the fair alone could pass 
for beautiful or well-bom. A dark complexion was considered the 
mark of an alien race, and dishonorable. Thus Baldir. the noblest of 
the gods, was fair, and the outward appearance of the slave was thus 
contrasted with that of the freeman. Black and ugly they were. 
Their forefather. Thrall, had a broad face, bent back, long heels. 
blistered hands, stiff, slow joints, and clumsy figure. His wife. Thy. 
was bandy-legged, flat-nosed, and her arms were brown with toiling 
in the sun. Their children were like them. 

The ordinars- dress of both sexes was nearlv the same. A shirt. 



IN AMERICA 15 

loose drawers, long hose, high shoes with thongs twisted up at the 
ankle. A short kirtle girt at the waist served for coat or gown; an 
armless cloak, with a low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat completed the 
dress of man. The woman, instead of the hat, wore a wimple of 
linen, and over that a high twisted cap, sometimes bent at the top into 
the shape of a horn; but otherwise dressed much as the man. The 
under-clothing of both sexes was of linen; their outer, of course, woolen 
homespun — grey, or black, or blue, or red, the most prized of all. 

To this the chiefs added, in time of war, a helm and shirt of mail ; 
and all were armed with a long shield, protecting the whole body, 
white, in time of peace ; red, in time of war, covered with leather with 
iron rim and boss ; spears of ashen shaft and iron point, axes, and above 
all, the sword, the darling of the Northmen. 

Their ships were long, half-decked galleys, propelled by oars and 
sail. The waist, where the rowers sat, was low, that the oars might 
have free play." (Johnson, R. H. Normans in Europe, pp. 16-17.) 

Physically dominant as they were, they did not scorn to render 
service, to pledge everlasting loyalty to a comrade through the mystic 
blood bond of friendship, and to promise and maintain marital fidelity 
and steadfast conjugal devotion. Yoked with this trait of staunch 
loyalty, the capacity for deep religious reverence stands out as one of 
the most prominent Scandinavian characteristics. The hold which 
religion, pagan at first, and later Christian, had over the early Scan- 
dinavians reflects their sombreness of personality and devotion to ideals. 
Will power, massive and unyielding, was the teaching of their moral 
code. Under the worship of Odin and Baal, a Viking was fired to deeds 
of endurance, was tossed to the pitch of actual conquest or certain 
death, all the while sustained by the pictured glories of the godland, 
that region where heroes proceeded ; till they fell, with Ragnarok, the 
downfall of the gods, this structure of bliss built by Scandinavian 
imagination. With the passing of pagan times the transcendent beauty 
of northern belief faded, but the spirit that gave the faiths their beauty 
survived in the songs of the skalds and the glorious adventures of the 
Vikings on the seas. Scandinavian psychic traits expressed in early 
poetry and romance emphasize love of the supernatural and strong sex 
consciousness. Through ice-locked fjords and over mountain tops 
glided the feet of the "little people," cognizance of whose wishes meant 



16 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

the well being or misfortune of individuals. Just as to-day the fishers 
fear the appearance of the "drage," that creature who rides in a half- 
boat and who foretells instant death, so in those far-away times all 
people feared and loved the "little people." Of them the skald would 
sing as they came visiting, entering halls or huts heartily welcomed. 
Such teachers of religion, science and literature turned banquets into 
halls of merriment with their gay songs, their long accounts of war 
deeds or love episodes. 

The character of these hardy Northmen was well suited to their 
future destiny. 

Johnson, in his "History of Normans in Europe," p. 18, says : 
"The daily struggle for existence in an inhospitable climate had taught 
them fearlessness and ready wit in danger. From the absence of all 
aristocracy or other privileged classes they had acquired a spirit of 
independence, a haughty and unbending character, which prepared them 
for their future conquests. Set face to face with the mysteries of 
nature and of their self-taught religion, they had gained an heroic fan- 
cifulness. a thoughtful sternness which lit up the darker tints. These 
features were the natural result of the free and independent life of 
their forefathers. To these we must add a cold-blooded ferocity, con- 
tracted in the long civil disturbances which had torn their country 
since the end of the eighth century. All these are the qualities common 
in early times of successful conquerors ; but as we follow the history 
of their settlements, another more important feature appears ; namely, 
their extraordinary versatility and power of adapting themselves to 
varied forms and states of society. The Northmen never seem to have 
been original, to have invented anything; rather they readily assumed 
the languag'e, religion, ideas of their adopted country, and soon became 
absorbed in the society around them. This will be found to be 
invarably the case, except with regard to Iceland, where the previous 
occupation was too insignificant to affect the new settlers. In Russia, 
they became Russians ; in France, Frenchmen ; in Italy, Italians ; in 
England, twice over Englishmen ; first in the case of the Danes ; and 
secondly, in that of the later Normans. Everywhere they became fused 
in the surrounding nationality. Their individuality was lost, and their 
presence is traced only in the nomenclature of the country, that fossil 
remnant of denationalized races, as it has been called. Not so their 



IN AMERICA 17 

influence. They fell on stirring times, and in every case they took the 
lead, and deeply affected the nations with which they came in contact. 
Kurope at that date was in a fluid state, and the Northmen seem 
to have acted as a crystallizing power; to have formed a nucleus 
round which political society might grow. In Iceland they formed a 
free republic; in Russia they first organized a kingdom; in England 
they, by their pressure, first consolidated the kingdom of Wessex, then 
conquered it under Canute and William I.; in the West-Frankish 
country they finally put an end to the long struggle for supremacy, 
sounded the death-knell of the Karolings of Laon, and aided to form 
modern France. Nor is this all; they borrow everything and make it 
their own, and their presence is chiefly felt in increased activity and 
more rapid development of institutions, literature and art. Thus, while 
they invent nothing, they perfect, they organize everything, and 
everywhere appear to be the master-spirits of their age." 

Under their lead bloomed the flower of romance in the north. 
But in romance itself there is such a dearth of sentiment, of gilded 
speeches and amorous situations ; all is terribly forcible, earnest and 
turbulent with elemental passion. It is of high-handed conquest the 
Northman sang and of such actions was his romance made. 

In action lay the greatness of the early Scandinavians ; world 
conquest was his controlling idea and far worked-for end, and 
"Vandrelyst" expresses that yearning which took the Viking conquest 
so far afield. Bred in a land of long winter, hemmed in by mountains, 
narrow fjords and the gloom of northern skies, all the exuberance of 
life fed by splendid physical condition leaped into being when the 
Northman sprang into his long-beaked ship, donned his high, winged 
cap, called to his men, freemen all, and sons of freemen, to go forth 
to conquer, pillage and harass half the then known world. Prows 
carved as serpents, golden eagles, ravens, or dragons swept through 
icy waters as the marauders advancing south to England and France, 
north to Greenland and west to America, brought terror to any land 
which had once felt the fangs of those wolves of the high seas. 
English conquests, French pillages and arctic colonizing bore witness 
to the spirit of those intrepid voyagers before the end of the adventur- 
ous era brought a quiescence which was in turn to be broken by the hot 
protest of the Reformation, the fever of colonizing epochs of the seven- 



18 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

teenth century and the splendid New World immigrating spirit of the 
nineteenth century. 

The psychic Scandinavian type thus emerges as a distinct whole, 
compounded of strongly marked traits, of virility, pride in feats of 
endurance and exhibitions of physical skill, of deep-seated loyalty to 
others, devoted steadfastness in conjugal relationships; also possessing 
fervent religious tendencies, love of the supernatural, affection for 
poetry, strong sex consciousness and an all-powerful love of adventure 
and glorious independence. Instances of the working out of these traits 
can be found in the panorama of Scandinavian history. One trait, 
sturdy independence, featured in the attempted introduction of Chris- 
tianity, in the establishment of jury trials, and in the Reformation 
fight for religious freedom. In 1000, when Gorni the Old ruled Den- 
mark, Christian missionaries were stoutly resisted till, explaining that 
they did not come to brutally stamp out the old religion but peacefully 
sought to substitute a new faith of gentleness and kindness in place of 
the old, they were allowed to circulate among the Danes ; arbitrariness 
bred resistance, and intolerance open rebellion. The justice of trial 
by jury was common, and practiced in Scandinavia before its intro- 
duction into England by Henry II. Likewise resistance to papal 
autocracy again widened the strong democratic strain which has so 
often been exhibited by Scandinavians in history. 

Such is the Scandinavian type which plays a long role from those 
far distant days when Greek Pytheas referred to Scandinavian men 
as "Hyperboreans," dwellers beyond the northwind, to the present 
day, when as dwellers in America they present themselves as contribu- 
tors to the social forces at work in American life. To scan such 
length of years, Scandinavian history may be divided into two periods, 
the earlier, 2500 B. C. to 1300 A. D., and 1300 to the present day. 

With the above introduction it is possible to commence Scandina- 
vian history as far back as facts, or semi-established facts, go. Keep- 
ing to the truth, it is well known that a branch of the Teutonvx.* or 
Nordic race came early to Scandinavia because of the excellence of 
the herring fishing, that they were attracted to stay and hunt and 
raise cattle, and that they later took part in trade of amber and furs 
with the Mediterranean world. 

All this happened before 400 B. C. Simultaneously there arose 



IN AMERICA 19 

Stories of the deeds of the heroes. Odin led the Asas out of Asia into 
Scandinavia, and at his death gave the land to his three sons, Denmark 
to Skgold, Sweden to Yngave, and Norway, to Soeming. Harold of 
Denmark fought the mythical battle of Bravalla and killed Sigurd of 
Sweden, whose son Ragnar met death in a pit of serpents. 

That history really began about the time of Alfred the Great is 
corroborated by the history of the three Scandinavian countries. In 
each a definite land system, featured by the family holding, freehold 
and hundred, seems to have been in existence. From the peasant 
land-holders there eventually sprang up rulers over certain portions of 
holdings, and from these rulers came a concentration of power in one 
king who picked his diet, the assize or thing, from them. Denmark 
forming a nation about the sound, Sweden around Lake Malaren, and 
Norway last to attain a national unity, because of her remoteness, 
each became a kingdom ruled by her own house Till the formation of 
the Kalmar Union in 1397, the three countries existed side by side, 
keeping pace in industrial development, in growth of towns and in 
forming a steadily enlarging nobility. The advent of St. Birgitta in the 
Church and the Black Death, that scourge of the Middle Ages, mark 
the closing of the first period. 

A brief review points out these important facts in the subsequent 
period. From 1397 to 1448 lasted the union of the three countries, then 
Sweden retired. Before that date occurred the era of Gustavus 
Adolphus in Sweden, afterwards, the periods of the brilliant ministries 
of the Bernstofifs in Denmark, and the corresponding cultivation of the 
fine arts. Wars w^ere waged against Napoleon in 1808, and Finland 
was lost to Sweden in 1809. In 1814 Norway and Denmark separated, 
and Norway and Sweden formed the alliance which lasted to 1905. 
What is of more picturesque significance to the world drama, how- 
ever, are the points of contact which Scandinavia made upon the 
other countries during both the earlier and later periods. Into the 
earlier fall those highly dramatic Viking voyages, exploratory trips, 
war maraudings and trial colonizing tours of which so much has been 
written. To the later period falls the American immigration and its 
subsequent contribution to the history of American greatness. 

Three great cycles encompass the old Viking raids. Barbaric 
invasions of Rome fill an early cycle occurring about 100 B. C. Then 



20 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

the Cimbri and Longobardi, strange peoples appearing from beyond 
the mountains, challenged three successive armies of Marius before 
they could be checked. Cruel, forcible and pitiless, this Viking move- 
ment was characterized by none of the constructive features of the 
later movements, merely brute force pouring into an effete civilization. 
When in 806, though, a band of Swedish warriors entered what is 
now Russia from "Rus," meaning contingent of sea-enlisted warriors, 
a constructive note was struck, which was followed up by the positive 
results of the Byzantium approaches, when the Vikings offered aid to 
the king of that city. In the neighborhood of their northern home 
Vikings likewise adventured, for in 861 Iceland was discovered and 
colonized by Ingolf, and Greenland by Erik the Red, who peopled the 
island 800 years before Hans Egede went there preaching Christianity. 
America was reached; Lief the Fortunate, son of Erik, in voyaging 
to Greenland, met shipwrecked mariners whom he carried to their 
destination, thereby reaching lands which he called Hellund (New- 
foundland), and Markland (Nova Scotia). Later Thorwald, Lief's 
brother, came to Massachusetts, and the intercourse which was kept 
up until the fourteenth century is said to have been the basis of 
Columbus' curiosity about further discoveries in the west. Whether 
it can be implicitly believed that to the Scandinavians is due the dis- 
covery of America, or not, it is well known that no country possessed 
at the time such inordinate love of the sea and such wanderers to 
brave the dangers of unknown lands as the Viking Norsemen. 

But through Europe ran the greatest Norse raids. The tale of 
their conquests in Belgium, France and Germany is only equalled by 
their exhibited prowess in the British Isles. Not only is the distinction 
of the breaking of Charlemagne's Empire given creditably to the 
harassing Vikings, but the very growth of France itself as a national 
power dates from the rise of the city of Paris against the invader's 
army. Armed for the siege of Rouen, the Norse warriors swept up the 
Seine, then, having won one stronghold, advanced to Paris, the seat ot 
warfare. Strong resistance broke the ranks of the attacking hordes ; 
Paris saved by Count Odo, sprang into life as a centre of the newly- 
horn French nation and the Empire of Charlemagne was crippled. 
R<~>ilo, the Norse leader, stayed on in Normandy, his warriors were 
named Norman noblemen, and from this race sprang that brilliant figure 



IN AMERICA 21 

of the eleventh and twelfth centuries, William the Conqueror of 
England. 

All that we can feel certain of, all, at least, which it is, in any 
way important tu remember, is the frequency and enormous area of the 
attacks, and this cannot be put in better words than those of Sir Francis 
Palgrave : "Take," he says, "the map, and cover with vermilion the 
provinces, districts, and shores which the Northmen visited. As a 
record of each invasit.n, the coloring will have to be repeated more than 
ninety times successively, before you arrive at the conclusion of the 
dynasty of Charles the Great. Furthermore, mark by the usual symbol 
of war, two crossed swords, the localities where battles were fought 
by the pirates, where they were defeated or triumphant, or where they 
pillaged, burned or destroyed, and the valleys and the banks of the 
Elbe, Rhine and Moselle, Scheldt, Meuse, Somme and Seine, Loire, 
Garomme and Adour, and all the coasts and coast-lands between estuary 
and estuary, all the countries between river and streams will appear 
bristling as with chevaux de frise." This will give us some idea of 
the invasions as far as Gaul and Germany are concerned; but it 
should be repeated for England, Scotland, and the islands which 
surround their coasts, to give any adequate conception of the misery 
tl.ey caused. 

Long had the plundering Norsemen harassed the coasts of English 
country; bitterly during the 9th and 10 centuries did they advance to 
pillage, burn, devastate Anglo-Saxon villages, to terrorize the kingdom 
and exact huge ransoms for unfulfilled promises. Such infusion of 
rampant paganism, high spirit, and invigorating character as the Danes 
brought to England was little felt in the days of devastation, it is only 
from the long point of view of the centuries that beneficial results of 
such infusion can be seen. The staunch, unyielding character of the 
English people against encroachment upon their rights, the bitter lesson 
of jury trial, representation in government, and charter grants have 
come in a great measure, it is believed, from that very infusion of 
Scandinavian blood. 

But with the close of the 11th century the great era of the Viking 
pales. Still much high national vigor was poured into the ranks of the 
Christians, who under Tancred fought at Antioch and Tiberius for the 
recovery of the Holy Sepulchre in the Crusading wars. In the same 



22 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

century Scandinavians poured into Switzerland, their powers still 
respected and feared. The great stream of adventurous wanderings 
had ceased, however, the boyhood days of the nation were over, and 
the fiery national spirit only flared up in the valiant part which Scan- 
dinavia took in combating the powers of the Reformation, and in the 
Napoleonic battles of the 19th century. 

Scandinavia had played her part, a gigantically strong part in the 
world drama. In the days of emigrations she peopled many parts of 
the earth, sent her best fighting blood to war in all quarters of the 
then known world, and besides, invigorated and relieved priest-ridden 
civilizations in the crumbling decades of the world's history of growth. 
Truly the Scandinavian figure, possessing great physical strength, 
dominating energy, loyalty to chieftain and brother, filled with the love 
of the seas, of the poetry of motion and the rhythm of conquest, and 
touched by the grandeur which comes from leadership in north-lying 
countries, by the imaginativeness of inquiring, childlike minds, truly 
such a figure has figured significantly in the adventurous era of Europe. 
That indeed, the history of the three Northern countries shows great 
loyalty to democratic ideals of government, great religious tolerance, 
strong sense of .Scandinavian consciousness, and tremendous and deep'- 
seated energy, is undoubted. Their old world contribution is loyalty 
and unsparing strength with all the poetic heritage of an adventurous 
era. Their new world contribution unfolds in the history of immigra- 
tion to America. 



CHAPTER III. 
History of Scandinavian Immigration. 

An analysis of the causes which brought about emigration from 
Scandinavia to America discloses several factors which at different 
times, induced Norwegians, Swedes and Danes to come to America. 
Trade impelled the colonizing immigrants, for in the days of the pros- 
perous Dutch West Indian Company, rich results were looked for in 
America, such as skins, Indian corn and tobacco, the trade articles 
which attracted the Swedes to the shores of the Delaware River. But 
trade did not on the whole rank very long as a cause for emigration. 
Religion can be said to be the first really dominant cause. The wish 
to worship according to their own ideas led the first Norwegian 
Quakers to New York State in 1825, while later Gruntvigian and Mor- 
mon ideas had some influence, though small, upon emigrating Scan- 
dinavians, but, since no very strong religious persecution ever took 
place in the Scandinavian countries, it at no time constituted a prime 
cause. What early strength it had was soon lost in a greater impetus,- 
the subtle attraction of letters homeward bound from countrymen who 
had already emigrated. Among all the other causes, military, commer- 
cial and financial, which arose and subsequently passed away, the 
pressure of this attraction, the accounts of America contained in letters, 
held its insistent sway. Reluctant to engage in required military 
training, the young men of the country read letters, pamphlets and 
newspapers describing the glories of the new country, then embarked 
for America. 

But economic pressure proved the strongest factor influencing 
emigration. In Norway, for instance, the money lenders were con- 
tracting the currency, reducing the value of the dollar, thereby main- 
taining higher incomes and cheaper labor. The common people felt it. 
Lower class farmers, too, were caught in the reaction of the railroad 
building of 1865-1869. Extended railroad construction, much inflation 

23 



24 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

of property values and constantly increasing loans met the natural 
check. Norway found herself too small a country, too restricted in 
resources, to keep up the pace she had set, and the smaller farmer 
felt the reaction. So poverty and dissatisfaction with the office-holding 
class drove the Norwegians to America. A state bankruptcy and war 
early in the nineteenth century, together with low wages throughout 
the period influenced the Danes to come, while, withal, the spirit of 
adventure and a desire to better their condition, moved these North- 
Europeans to come to a land of brilliant futures. And it was true 
indeed that America held out tempting prospects. Extension of rail- 
roads westward, the Homestead Act of 1862, besides numerous contracts 
between land and railroad companies, were opening up the northwestern 
territory of the United States. Consequently, jointly, economic pressure 
in Europe and economic attraction in America started and maintained 
the great mass of Scandinavian American immigration. This is the 
great cause : trade and religion appeared, elfected results and passed 
away; military obligations had some little influence, and while the 
power of letters and the press was felt throughout the immigration 
period, it was economic conditions which moved the great mass of the 
people westward. 

The earliest mention of Scandinavians on American shores is in 
1609, when it is claimed that Hudson, possibly a Dane, sailed up the 
Mauritius Floden, or Hudson River. This opens the colonial period 
to which belongs an account of scattered Danish or other Scandinavian 
traders and of certain definite Swedish settlements on the Delaware. 
Following the colonial period, Scandinavian immigration history con- 
cerns itself with the settlements of Norwegians in New York State in 
1825, with Norwegian, Swedish and Danish settlements in the west and 
northwest in 1836-1870, and finally deals v/ith the large movements of 
immigrants in the decades of 1870-1900. An attempt will be made to 
present each period, the colonial, 1609-1665; intermediate, 1800-1870; 
and the later, 1870-1900, with an anlysis oF the character and develop- 
ment of each period. 

On account of the relatively close lying position of Denmark and 
Holland, the assumption is made that Hendrick Hudson was perhaps 
of Danish blood. To the Danes it seems likely that, because many 
Danish sailors were often to be met in Dutch ports, American voyages 



IN AMERICA 25 

might sometimes have been due to the Danish nation. So they claim 
that when Hendrick Hudson sailed in 1609 to American shores, dis- 
covered and named the Mauritius Floden, or Hudson River, as it was 
later called, such an occurrence marks the first Scandinavian event in 
America. Whether or not it can be so called, it is certain that Danes 
were at any rate on the ship, and that, when Hudson met the Indians 
at the mouth of Mauritius Floden and inquired the name of Menaten 
Island (now Manhattan), Danes were present. Surely in 1611 a Dane, 
Captain Henry Christiansen, sailed to New York. He came in a Dutch 
vessel from the West Indies, visited New York and took back skins and 
corn to Holland. When in 1613 he returned, a partner, Adrian Block, 
accompanied him. In sailing up the Hudson River, meeting and trading 
with Orson and Valentine, they persuaded these Indian chiefs to return 
to Holland with them. It is said that Christiansen and Block travelled 
about the country exhibiting their strange visitors. Such mutual 
friendship between the Indians and hosts did not, however, endure; 
the "Fortune" and "Tiger," the two vessels commanded by Christian- 
sen and Block, voyaged to and fro from America about ten times ; 
Albany was reached and fortified as Fort Nassau, but Christiansen, 
who died there in 1614, is reported to have been treacherously mur- 
dered by the Indian chief, Orson. Block lost his boat "Tiger" outside 
of Battery Place, so was forced to remain in America ; he built four 
log houses at about the present 39 Broadway, — this was the beginning 
of New Amsterdam. (Danes in America, p. 360.) This made a place 
of trade. New Netherland the post was called, and after this several 
traces of Scandinavian names have been found. 

Most suggestive of interest is the arrival in 1639 of a certain 
captain of the East Indian Company by name of Kayser or Jochiem 
Pieters Knyter. With him was a friend, Ursus Bronck of Copen- 
hagen (see p. 364 Danes in America), who received land along the 
Harlem River. There this much respected man built a house calling it 
"Emaus," to which came the Governor, making treaties with the 
Indians when trouble broke out. The import and significance of the 
man Bronck, Bronx, is not to be overlooked in the ensuing development 
of the metropolis of Manhattan, for, if the claims of the Danes for the 
Danish nationalism of the man proves worthy of acceptance, the fact 



26 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

of his arrival and settlement picturesquely tills in the very early colo- 
nial period of Scandinavian American history. 

Colonizing was first thought of in Sweden along with trade, and 
from 1607 to 1663 many trading companies were organized in Sweden, 
but the one which prominently antedates New Sweden, in America, 
was a trading company organized by William Usselinx, a Dutchman, in 
1624. Being dissatisfied with his treatment by Holland in connection 
with the Dutch West Indian Company, he came to Sweden to interest 
the king in a trading project which should bring wealth to the Swedish 
crown. Gustavus Adolphus, having just covered himself with glory in, 
his European wars, ready to welcome any large schemes, was soon 
prevailed upon to give Willem Usselinx a commission to establish a 
"General Trading Company for Asia, Africa, America and Magellanica." 
Usselinx drew up his prospectus and started to get subscrip- 
tions; but the latter, although reinforced by crown support, did not 
quickly materialize. Years went by, the king became interested in an 
United South Ship Company in 1629, consequently Usselinx became 
discouraged, withdrew from the South Company and started afresh 
to interest all Europe in his schemes. He proposed an international 
mercantile company, then a Second or New South Company, but both 
were doomed to failure. 

The idea started by Usselinx did, however, mature, but later. 
Sweden at this time depended for her prosperity on trade in copper. 
The West Indian copper trade was flourishing. Two Dutchmen, 
Bloomaert, a trader, and Minuit, sometime Governor of New Nether- 
land, proposed to Oxenstjerne, the Swedish minister, to start a trading 
company in secret opposition to the West Indian Company, which 
should send trading expeditions to the Delaware and other parts of 
America under the Swedish flag. Two schemes, in fact, were consid- 
ered, one the proposition to begin trade to the coast of Guinea and the 
other a project to found a New Sweden and carry on trade with the 
Indians. This latter plan was followed, and the Company founded had 
in prospect colonization of the coast of North America "from Florida 
to Terra Nova" (p. 102 The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware). 
The first expedition, however, was to have as its main destination the 
Delaware, or South River. The company was financed by Bloomaert, 
Minuit and private Swedish stockholders, and was to have certain 



IN AMERICA 27 

privileges granted by the government, that is, exclusive right to trade 
on the Delaware River for twenty years, that all articles shipped from 
Holland for trade in America were to enter duty free into Sweden and 
all articles from America likewise to be free for a period of years. 
The profits and losses were shared by Bloomaert and Minuit, and 
Minuit was chosen to lead the first expedition. 

The first expedition took the Nova Scotia route according to 
instructions to take a course "behind England and Scotland" (p. 112 
The Swedish Settlements on the Delaware) and to cross the ocean 
about the forty-fourth degree. If possible, Minuit was to take posses- 
sion of the land about Halifax, to examine the advantages foi fur 
trade and colonization and to plant the Swedish flag there. After that 
he was to proceed to the Delaware, then to Florida and call the entire 
land New Sweden. In 1638 the voyage of the "Kalmar Nyckel" took 
place. Minuit arrived in Delaware Bay, sailed up the river as far as 
the Manquas Kill, and not finding any white men, entered into a con- 
tract of purchase with the Indians. 

During the existence of the colony, 1638-1655, good relations were 
always maintained with the Indians. With them the Swedes traded in 
fur, Indian corn and tobacco. Besides this, there was intercolonial 
trade with the English and the Dutch, a trade which eventually 
caused the termination of the colony in 1655, when the Dutch became 
masters. Before that time a change in the character of the New Sweden 
Company took place, for it became after the second expedition, wholly 
Swedish. Money difficulties made it necessary for the crown to 
contribute one-third, the old South Ship Company one-third and 
private stockholders the rest. On this footing the company pro- 
ceeded, having the same commercial agents in Holland and the old 
charter privileges. A new Governor, Ridder, was sent in 1640, another, 
Printz, in 1643, who served till 1653. The duties of the Governor 
were important, for it was a strongly centralized power; to the Gov- 
ernor belonged all administrative duties ; he had to keep accounts, also 
be a military and commercial manager. Courts were held. Religion 
was the state belief, the Swedish Lutheran. Ministers were sent over 
by the consistory at home, and it is supposed a small church building 
was erected at the fort. Log houses, farm buildings and a few ships 
were the only building ventures the colonists engaged in. Agriculture 



28 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

and cattle raising, besides trade, were the most important industries. 

Trade continued the raison d'etre of the colony. Copper, beaver 
and tobacco were the main articles. The English in New Haven, 
observing the exceptional position of the Delaware communities, came 
to investigate in 1641. They found the country sparsely settled, so 
lingered to do trading with the Indians and Swedes. Antagonism was 
felt by the Swedes toward the New Haven English traders in spite of 
the fact that the English in Virginia and Maryland were looked upon 
as friendly neighbors. Throughout the period the English were, how- 
ever, considered much more foes than the Dutch, although as 1645 
approached relations with the Dutch, friendly at first, then alternately 
hostile and friendly, turned sharply hostile in 1654. Printz, the 
Governor at New Sweden, not being a military man, did not see the 
significance of Dutch encroachment. A fort was built below the 
Swedish fort on the river and Dutch arrogance increased steadily, till 
the sudden siege of Fort Christina proved the latent strength of the 
Dutch under Peter Stuyvesant and the relative weakness of the Swedes 
under Printz. With the fall of the fort ended New Sweden as a Swedish 
colony, the officers returned to Europe, while most of the settlers swore 
oaths of allegiance to Holland. The reports of the officers when 
delivered at home brought about renewed interest in colonial Sweden 
and the recent negligence of the court and people was turned to 
enthusiasm to win back New Sweden. The formation of a new com- 
pany called "The American Company," and a few more expeditions 
were the only results, however, for with the capture of New Amster- 
dam by the English in 1665 ended all hope of Sweden winning back 
her colony. 

In Norway, in 1816, a Quaker society was formed at Stavanger 
by Larson, Tastad and Hille, three Norwegians, who as prisoners of 
Napoleon, on being taken to England, had joined the Quaker faith and 
returned to propagate it in their home country. To their efforts and 
those of Kleng Peerson and Knud Olson Eide may be given the credit 
of forming the first Norwegian settlements in America, for Peerson 
and Eide, conceiving that America would be an acceptable place in 
which to practice Quakerism unmolested, came to New York in 1821 
to mvestigate. On their return Lars Larson organized a party to sail 
on the "Restaurationen" to America in 1825. It was this party which 



IN AMERICA 29 

heralded the beginnings of Norwegian immigration to the United 
States. In 1825 the fifty-two Quakers arrived, were welcomed by 
their brothers of the faith in New York City, and provided with money 
with which to journey to Kendall, a portion of land in Orleans County, 
New York. There they took up the land in a body, paid for it in 
installments, enjoyed the privilege of worshipping according to their 
ideas and cheerfully endured the necessary hardship of pioneer living. 

By 1836 more Norwegians were ready to migrate to America, 
two Kohler brigs were fitted out, the "Norden" and "Den Norske 
Klippe." By those ships 150 to 200 more settlers arrived in this 
country, but these, instead of joining their friends at Kendall, per- 
suaded some of the Kendall settlers, among them Kleng Peerson, the 
leader, to go westward and found a settlement at Fox River, La Salle 
County, Illinois. This Fox River settlement opens up a significant 
period in Scandinavian American history, for it inaugurated the era of 
west and northwest settlements. From 1836 down to the present day 
Scandinavians came to be associated also solely with the Northwest, 
and it is there that their history is followed. Proof of this fact depends 
upon the reports of definite settlements in certain states. Statistics are 
unreliable for any decades before 1870. Norwegian, Danish and 
Swedish figures are given for immigrants coming in certain years, but 
no statistical table of the Scandinavian grouping can be arranged for 
this, what is called the intermediate period of .Scandinavian American 
history. Consequently, the only course is to follow the founding of 
individual settlements, to determine what states attracted the Scandi- 
navians and to define the larger issues affecting their movements in 
America. 

A glance at a map of the United States for the period 1800-1870 
would show that of the states containing Scandinavian settlements, with 
the exception of New York, Florida, Texas, Utah, California and 
Idaho, all settlements fall within the group of states Illinois, Michigan, 
\\^isconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas and the Dakotas. This is 
Northwest territory, a vast region whose history had begun in the days 
when Indian canoes swept down the big rivers and French explorers 
tried its forests. Hardly can settlement be said to have begun for the 
French, Chaniplain, Nicolet, Claude Allouez and La Salle were explor- 
ers, not colonizers. They tracked a pathless wilderness which was to 



30 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

remain French, and French-Indian till the English occupation in 1761, 
but their stay was only temporary. By 1785-90 during the English 
occupation, more definite knowledge was gained of this region, bound- 
aries were indicated by the Ohio, Mississippi and the Great Lakes. 
Detroit stood the keypoint of all this vast French-English region till 
the end of the War of 1812 saw the possession become wholly 
American. 

Into this new region came the Scandinavians when in 1836 the 
Norwegians settled at Fox River. Relatives and friends soon followed 
and took up what they considered to be better land in La Salle and 
Boone counties in 1839. Rock, Racine, Dane and Walworth counties 
in Wisconsin were entered in 1838-40. A Swedish colony appeared at 
Adrian, in Michigan, while Washington, Goodhue and Carver counties 
started Swedish history in Minnesota. 1863 saw the beginnings of 
Kansas history; Scandinavians, attracted by the Homestead Act of 
1862, and the Galesburg Colonization Company, filled the central part 
of the state in Saline and McPherson counties, while Sugar Creek and 
New Sweden sprang into existence in Iowa. Railroads were extended 
into North Dakota in 1872, Fargo became a terminus to be reached by 
immigrants, thereby settling Cass, Griggs, Walsh trail and Richland 
counties. Numerous as are the settlements, the facts attending their 
origin and development are much the same. Each one initiated by a 
leader, accepted pioneer conditions, broke ground, farmed and in most 
cases prospered. Illinois, possessing Chicago, was the natural point of 
contact with the East. To Chicago came the trainloads of immigrants. 
Railroad development in Illinois 1850-1870 naturally scattered them 
through the state; a propitious climate, rich soil and good situation also 
kept many Scandinavians in this state. Religion characterized the 
cultural aspects of the settlements. Mormonism made itself felt m 
1840, for at Nauvoo, the Mormon colony attracted the attention and 
reproof of the state authorities. Michigan with her great forests and 
splendid virginal condition called to the Scandinavian farmer; Detroit 
the key to the Northwest region in early days, now opened up a territory 
rich in resources to the hardy immigrant. Wisconsin, easy of access by 
means of the Mississippi River, early became a goal to Scandinavian 
newcomers, for this state became popular, especially through advertise- 
ment in foreign newspapers. From Chicago and the Illinois settlements 



IN AMERICA 31 

the arrivals advanced, at first by boat or stage, to the larger regions of 
the northern states, Winconsin and Minnesota, destined later to rank 
very highly as populous Scandinavian States. Meanwhile, across the 
river from Nauvoo, Illinois, there sprang up settlements at Sugar Creek 
and around Rock Island. Westward through this state of Iowa the 
trail of the Northmen also led to Central Kansas, where railroad rates 
and land values were the attraction as in the contiguous territory of 
the Dakotas. In fact, the Scandinavian, colonizing this district so 
thoroughly, became known as a considerable developing agent, ranking 
second (1860) in size of alien race to cultivate the great Northwest. 

The attitude of the American government and the railroads had 
much to do with the Scandinavian settling of the Northwest. The 
Homestead Act of 1862 emphasizes conditions which always attract 
pioneers, the expectation of finding cheap land under government pro- 
tection, and the surety of experiencing society and politics in a forma- 
tive stage. The railroads in the two decades of 1860-1880, encouraged 
this expectation, for the Union Pacific Railroad Company and the 
Northern Pacific Railway made rates offering special terms to homestead 
seekers. The "First Swedish Agriculture Company" of 1860 offers 
an example of this kind, for in that year the Union Pacific Railway 
entered into agreement with the First Swedish Agriculture Company 
of McPherson Country, Kansas, reducing railroad rates and land 
purchases. The establishment of the Galesburg Colonization Company 
likewise depended for its success on a bargain with the Kansas Pacific 
Railroad Company, while the settlement of North Dakota is mainly 
attributed to the Northern Pacific Railway Company. 

Religion is closely connected with the movement of Scandinavians 
for the period considered. In America the Norwegians particularly 
observed close allegiance to the State Lutheran Church. Just so 
soon as a settlement originated religious cohesion to the national form 
of worship was demonstrated. The Norwegians had a national 
Church in 1844 when only 12,000 Norwegians were in this country, 
while before this there were local congregations and ministers. The 
growth of church buildings and enlargement of church organization 
kept pace steadily with the increase in immigration. Among the Swedes, 
although in the main very loyal to state worship, greater diversity of 
sects were to fo found. After 1850 many Swedish Methodists, Swedish 



32 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

Baptist and Mission Friend churches located in various settlements. 
The Danes favored numerous denominations, Baptist, Presbyterian, 
Adventist and Unitarian. Not till after 1870 with 30,000 Danes in 
the United States, was there a purely Danish American Church with 
a minister. Of most interest in Danish American Church history is the 
introduction in 1869 of Gruntvigian ideas, propagated by a Grunt- 
vigian Society in Denmark. This Society advocated the practical 
side of Christianity and protested, as did its originator, the reformer 
and exhorter, Nicolai Gruntvig, against the rationalistic tendency 
in the state church. Mormonism likewise had a radical influence on 
Danes in America. Joseph Smith, born 1827 in New York State, 
started a Mormon settlement in Missouri. Driven out of that State 
by the governor's orders, he purchased a tract of land in Nauvoo 
in Illinois in 1840, but was not able to remain there after 1846, for, 
becoming bold and introducing polygamy, he was required by the 
State to remove the colony in that year. Meanwhile before the 
definite removal to Utah an experiment was tried at White River, 
Walworth County, Wisconsin. After Smith's death and the assumption 
of leadership by Young, this wing of the party also removed to 
Utah. To the Mormon Church there flocked many Danes, especially 
in the years 1850-60, for Rasmus Sorensen in Denmark worked 
upon the excitable sympathies of the people to induce Mormon 
emigration. From 1861 to 1868 of the 9,362 Danish emigrants, 
2,500 were Danish Mormons. From the Fox River Settlement many 
Norwegians likewise joined the Mormons, especially at Lamoni, 
a place near Nauvoo, where the Mormons did not practice polygany, 
and with them later moved to Utah. 

After 1870 the history of Scandinavian immigration is best traced 
by statistics and in considering three decades, 1880, 1890 and 1900, 
certain points are to be observed. The movement of immigration is 
from the East to the Northwest and Westwards. The Northwest 
section of the United States always maintains a position far ahead 
of other sections of the country. Besides this Northwest movement, 
which is indicated by statistics of foreign born Scandinavians, there 
is an enlargement of the foreign element marked by the increase in 
the United States groups which is indicated by statistics of the 
foreign born and native born of foreign parentage. This movement 



IN AMERICA 33 

and relative increase of the foreign element in the groups are the 
dominant features in later immigration history. 

In 1880 about 439,210 Scandinavians came to the United States, 
of these 1.4% or 6,149 went to the southern states, 10% or 43,921 to 
the eastern, 11.67o or 50,948 to the western, and 77 fc or 338,192 to 
the northwestern. This shows the position of the northwest group in 
which are included the States of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, 
Wisconsin, Iowa, the Dakotas and Nebraska. By 1890 the Scandi- 
navian immigration tide reached 10,995 in the southern group, 128,761 
in the eastern, 123,345 in the western and in the northwestern 670,148. 
In the following decade 1900 the figures rose to 15,273 for the 
southern, 188,371 for the eastern, 143,442 for the western and 
715,121 for the northwestern. Thus it is seen that during the 
three decades the movement of immigration had changed, although 
ver)^ slightly for the northwest group holding 77"^^ of immigration in 
1880 shrank to 67.3% in 1900, while the western group enlarged 
itself from 11.6% in 1880 to 13.4% in 1900, and the eastern group 
10% in 1880, reached 17.7% in 1900. This is significant in showing 
that while there is a steady maintenance of first position by the 
northwest group, there is later a tendency on the part of incoming 
.Scandinavians to remain in the east and also to go far west. 

Before considering further the movement of the incoming immi- 
grants, a glance at the increase by decades of the groups, discloses 
a similar conclusion as to the maintenance of first position by the 
northwest group and the slight gain in percentage of foreign elements 
in the east and west in 1890 and 1900. Of all the Scandinavians 
in America in 1890, that is, foreign born and native born of foreign 
parentage, 73% or 1,816,541 were in the northwest group, 12.7% or 
314,765 were in the eastern. 12.7% or 313,750 were in the western 
and 1.2% or 29,990 were in the southern. In 1900 70% or 2,226,107 
were in the northwestern group, 13% or 425,039 in the western, 15% 
or 496,388 in the eastern and 1.5% or 48,798 were in the southern. 
This discloses the phenomenon of a slight decrease in the north- 
west, 73% to 70% and an increase in the west 12.7% to 13% and in 
the east 12.7% to 15%, a conclusion which was reached above when 
considering the newly arriving emigrants. 

From the percentages quoted it may easily be observed that 



34 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

the northwest group always greatly outdistances the other groups, 
and of this northwest group, Minnesota is found to take the lead 
in rank of the Scandinavian States. In 1890 Minnesota had 588,250 
Scandinavians to Illinois' 326,044; Wisconsin had 284,350 to Iowa's 
210,106 to the Dakota's 183,800, Nebraska's 122,923 and Michigan's 
101,068. In 1900 Minnesota still led, the others' distributions being 
Minnesota with 753,514 Scandinavians, Illinois with 432,075, Wisconsin 
with 341,659, the Dakotas with 248,590, Iowa with 244,507, Nebraska 
with 128,054 and Michigan last with 117,708. In 1900 Minnesota had 
23% of all the Scandinavians in the United States or 43% of the 
State population was Scandinavian. In all periods for total Scandi- 
navians Minnesota persistently contains one-third, thereby establish- 
ing her position as head of the northwest group. 

But while the Scandinavian element is mainly to be found in 
the northwest group, there is no denying that there has been a move- 
ment to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, 
Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and California. This movement 
westward was scattering in the midst of a large group and while 
the increases for the group from 1880 to 1900 was 186% the lines 
of march appears to be west, northwest. 

The States which led in the increases were Washington, Cali- 
fornia, Colorado, Montana, Oregon and Utah in the order mentioned, 
for of the 92,949 increase, Washington led with 24,730, California 
followed with 18,927, Colorado with 10,931, Montana with 9,741, 
Oregon with 7,065 and Utah with 5,530. In this westward move- 
ment it is interesting to notice the relatively small increase of the 
State of Kansas, prominent in the history of the earlier period but 
which in the period 1880-1900 increased only 50,764 as against the 
73,979 increase in two decades of the adjoining State of Nebraska, 
similar in conditions of climate and soil. 

The immigration line of direction on the whole was west, 
northwest. History for 1800-1876 likewise emphasizes a west, north- 
west direction. 

These two facts characterize the whole Scandinavian movement 
in America. It was a northwest movement pre-eminently; a fact 
interesting in the psychology of races in that it expresses the uncon- 



IN AMERICA 35 

scious impulse of a migrating race to seek similarity of latitudinal 
position. Scandinavia is a northwest country of Europe, therefore when 
immigration to the United States takes place, it seeks the north- 
west portion of the latter country. Thus Sacndinavian racial charac- 
teristics of industriousness, simplicity, obedience to law, integrity and 
chivalrousness have been convened into a certain group of American 
states. What impress they make socially, politically and economi- 
cally will subsequently be seen. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Scandinavians in America Considered as a Potential or Latent 

Force. 

We have considered the arriving and the distribution of the 
Scandinavian immigrants. In this chapter it is our purpose to 
review what they do rather than to trace the influence of their 
acts. Hence the subject: Scandinavians in America as a potential 
or latent force. Enough has been said to show that wherever they 
have settled, their "foot-prints on the sands of time" are seen. Few 
countries in Europe fail to show their imprints. Can this race come to 
our country in such a large number and fail to be a factor in our 
national life? To suppose this, is impossible and contrary to 
historical facts. Their influence is, and will be a force that can 
never be eliminated. American history has already written many 
of their deeds indelibly upon its pages ; i. e., John Ericksen and 
his Monitor formed a turning point in the Civil War, and revolu- 
tionized war; the late John A. Johnsen, Governor of Minnesota, was 
a true American and an exponent of our highest ideals ; Honorable 
Knut Nelson has proved himself a conservative, yet progressive 
statesman of our country. 

That race which the most readily and completely merges with 
the people of the new country will give more and receive more of 
the characteristics peculiar to the two races. The importance of 
the similarity and the dis-similarity of the two races must not be 
overlooked, as the more nearly these are alike, the more easily will 
they act reciprocally and lose less energy in futile or vain striving. 
Plistory amply substantiates that Scandinavians readily amalgamate, 
and that the cultural differences of the Scandinavians and Americans 
are not extremes is also w^ell known, hence in their absence we 
have good reasons why the Scandinavians should persist in culti- 
vating their peculiarly national characteristics. 

3() 



IN AMERICA 37 

The oft-quoted phrase "United we stand, divided we fall," could 
be appropriately applied if all the races that have come to America 
should continue as miniature countries from whence they emigrated — 
wars without end would result. The making of a new nation would 
be impossible. The improvement of the race would be greatly retarded 
— the system preventing the infusion of new blood and the devastating 
effect of wars would soon be manifest; e. g., the loss of the best men, 
and destruction of property. 

England formerly, America now, show how a new nation is made 
from many nationalities. The two countries mentioned amply substantiate 
the result, since they are the strongest nations the world has ever 
known. Hence in America a complete process of merging will 
improve our nation. The two sides of this question will be con- 
sidered in this chapter. From the above it is evident that ultimate 
Americanization is desirable and necessary, both for the immi- 
grant and the nation ; united they will progress, divided they will fight. 
To what extent have the Scandinavians mixed with the American 
people? Two answers may be given. If we consider the early arrivals, 
not emigrants, as the Swedes on the Deleware, and others who 
may have been here for a long time, the mixing is quite complete. 
Only a few racial traits remain as characteristics of a foreign race. 

Where, however, the immigrants have arrived later, and the oppor- 
tunities for mixing are less favorable, the process of Americani- 
zation is much slower. Another more general factor is the readiness 
with which some nationalities amalgamate. A glance at our nation 
readily shows that certain races do so with difficulty and others 
remain a separate people forming a part of the nation ; e. g., the 
more recent arrival of Hebrews, Negroes, Japanese and Chinamen. 
Such separating characteristics are found in every nation, large or 
small, and is especially evident in Norway. This is particularly 
true of what is termed "Easterners," their mental and physical 
traits are quite different from the "Westerners," the "Easterners" being 
distinctly of the dolichocephalic — long headed type; while the "West- 
erners" have strong tendencies to the brachycephalic — broad headed 
type. "Not only are the broad-headed coast districts darker as a 
whole ; in them the brachycephalic individuals actually tend to be 
darker than the other types, as Arbo has clearly shown. Finally, 



38 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

while, as our map of stature indicates, the population of this south- 
western corner of Norway is not distinctly shorter than the remainder 
of the country, nevertheless, in this region the broadest-headed types 
incline to shortness of stature. In temperament these people, un- 
Teutonic in all of the ways we have described, are also peculiar. 
They seem to be more emotional, loquacious and susceptible to leadership, 
in contradistinction to the stolid, reserved and independent Teutons." 
(The Races of Europe by Ripley, p. 208.) Similar peculiarities are 
found in Sweden, especially north of Jemtland and Helsinge where 
the dark, broad-headed and short type predominates. Such charac- 
tertistics cannot be eliminated completely in the new country. 

On the basis of what has been said, we may ask : Is amalgamation 
possible only by uniformity, or may habits and peculiarities be retained? 
No nation is a perfect unity without variation, and if, according to 
Dr. Binder, variation is necessary to progress, the answer must be, 
Unity yet Variety ; otherwise a nation would stagnate ; continuing the 
same reasoning, the nation with the greatest variety will progress 
the most rapidly. Concluding, an absolute uniformity is not neces- 
sary nor desirable to national welfare. 

The extent of variety is best seen in the customs and languages 
as retained by the immigrants. When traveling through our country, 
we cannot fail to notice the peculiarities of the various localities as 
these may be Scandinavian, German, Russian, or any other nationality 
represented. In spite of these peculiarities, the people are generally 
good and loyal Americans, ready and willing at any time, if duty 
should call, to march to battle for the defence of their adopted country. 

As a national custom of Scandinavians, their sports may be 
mentioned first. These have been practiced for generations in their 
adopted land, for skieing with high jumps, rowing, swimming and 
"turning" in its various branches appears to be their second nature. 
Mountains, valleys and fjords have for centuries been national factors 
in the making of the Scandinavians. Their national dish is long 
maintained,^ — fladbrod, sylte, ludefisk, grod, and many others too numer- 
ous to mention, are evident for generations. As a result of this, the 
various Scandinavian institutions throughout our country set two 
tables, one being for Americans, as they do not as a rule find the 
national dish of the Scandinavians palatable. 



IN AMERICA 39 

Chorous singing is another Scandinavian national characteristic. As 
a consequence we find a very large number in Greater New York 
and throughout the country. Young men of the second and third 
generation will often endeavor to learn Scandinavian, if for no 
other reason than that they might join the "Chorus," their songs as 
a rule being national in character. Each nationality is represented in 
its "Sangerforbund" as the Norske, Svenske and Danske "national 
sangerforbund." A Scandinavian forbund comprising representatives 
from the three nations existed for a few years, but soon dissolved 
because of jealousy. 

The retention of their languages is not the strongest feature 
of the Scandinavians. The rapid loss of their language reduces their 
influence, and our American nation thus fails to receive from them 
what lies imbedded in the language of the country, as culture, litera- 
tuie and art. Their efficiency, likewise, is reduced by the loss 
of one language. This rapid loss is especially noticeable in cities 
and districts where the immigrant comes in contact with Americans 
or other nationalities. Where, however, the district is exclusively 
Scandinavian, and the settlers are established in their own custom, 
the people will remain quite thorough foreigners for generations, as 
in Goodhus, Filmore and Lac Qui Parle, counties in Minnesota. 

Generally speaking, the Scandinavians Americanize too rapidly. 
This is also evident to themselves, hence the many means taken to 
keep them true to their national traits and customs. A powerful 
means is the parochial schools, under the supervision of their Church 
organizations. They have several teachers' seminaries and normal 
schools for the preparation of teachers. These schools have a 
double purpose, the first is to teach the principles of religion, since 
the Scandinavian countries are very thorough in their religous 
instruction, even including considerable dogmatics, and as a large 
majority are Lutheran, three books must be committed to memory; 
viz, Luther's Catechism, Pontoppidan's Explanation or Epitomy, and 
a condensed Bible History of the Old and New Testament. The above 
course is good training for the young mind. Another purpose for 
which the parochial school is used, is to teach the foreign language 
to their children. This is an unpedagogical procedure, as books intend- 
ed for the instruction of religion are not usually adapted for text 



40 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

books from which to teach foreign languages. "Confirmation" is 
an act that indicates completion of the religious instruction. If young 
people are not to be considered "black sheep" they must be "confirmed." 
Parents often say they want their children confirmed, as they want 
them to "learn Norwegian." Thus we note the perverted purpose to 
which this sacred act is subjected by some. 

National Societies. These are all organized to counteract Amer- 
ican influence, and bitterly do many of them bewail any mark of the 
American stamp; a member who might thus be affected would at 
once be considered as having dishonored the good name of his native 
country. It is evident that such societies cannot have a large nor 
a parmanent membership, their narrowness forbids it, the Scandinavian 
nature soon rebels against such bonds, and American influence 
lends a helping and relieving hand. If these societies were to be judged 
by their "noise," they would indeed be considered powerful. The 
majority of them represent extremes, and as extremes are generally 
bad, they cannot accomplish much beyond a national parade, and 
a dance once or twice a year. The explanation for the above is found 
in the fact that they are nearly exclusively composed of members who 
have lately arrived, and whose one aim and purpose is to show 
America "how to do things." This may be necessan>% but usually they 
are shown first, or disappear. The Danes seem to lead the other 
Scandinavians in this class of Societies. They have three national 
bodies in America, the Danish Brotherhood in America, The United 
Danish Societies in America, and the Association of Danish people in 
America. The last is an exception to the class mentioned and dates 
its Kferth from the year 1887; it is the result of the efforts of Rev. F. L. 
Gruntvig, and its principal aims are to perpetuate the spiritual inherit- 
ance of Denmark, and to preserve the language of that country without 
neglecting the duties of American citizenship. Their rules read, "Men 
and Women who feel as if they were Danes, and are not hostile to the 
Christian Church can become members on equal terms." (History of 
the Scandinavians in the U. S., Vol II., p. 47, by O. Nelson.) There 
are several other societies classed as national, but which arc in 
reality American Scanidnavian Societies. Their purpose is to give 
to America the best that the immigrants have brought, and to 
induce the American Scandinavian to retain as a most valuable 



IN AMERICA 41 

heritage, the culture of his native land; when this has been "toned" in 
the American culture and made a part of it, the immigrant and 
America have both improved, reciprocally they have given their 
best. The membership of this class of societies is generally composed 
of Scandinavians of the second and third generations, men of edu- 
cation and influence, politically, socially and otherwise. 

The Scandinavian Press is a factor the politician reckons with, 
as, like the Irishman, the Scandinavian is a born politician. The 
Scandinavian press exerts an immense influence. It aims to be 
impartial, politically independent, but is often found to favor special 
candidates and parties so openly that the effect of the "almighty 
dollar" is quite evident. It is much to be regretted that the 
press is thus "for sale," as its readers are largely guided by its 
advice, many of them are unable to read the American press and 
literature, and hence are forced to depend on their own Scandinavian 
publications for information. In justice to all papers, it must be said 
that many are absolutely independent and disseminate truthful informa- 
tion regarding the issue of the day. The press, like the societies, may 
be divided into the sacred and the secular. The different Church 
organizations of the three nationalities have their own papers, these 
are respectfully known as their "official organ." They also publish 
special papers in the interest of missions, Sunday Schools, and for 
the young people, the latter appearing in the American language. 
With a few exctpticrs, the papers are well and ally edited and 
exercise a wholesome influence upon their readers. 

It is to be remembered that the Scandinavian press, especially 
the secular, is mindful of the fact that it appears in a foreign 
language, and hence is a strong factor for the preservation of that 
particular language. This result of selfishness, however, does not 
detract from its general usefulness and efficiency. 

The aggregated average circulation per issue — daily, Sunday, weekly, 
semi-weekly, tri-weekly, and others were 1,149,619 in 1904; and 1,118,- 
601 in 1909, a loss of three per cent. The decrease in number was 
from 162 in 1904 to 161 in 1909. (From Norwegian American, pub- 
lished January 4th 1912 at Northfield, Minnesota.) 

The last of the means to be considered for the retention of 
Scandinavian traits is the teaching of their languages in the public 



42 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

schools and universities. This factor comes near home to every 
American as he is brought in direct contact with their language 
and literature. In several of the universities of the middle west 
plays from Scandinavian authors have been given, and a thorough 
study is made of their writings by Scandinavian and American 
students. During the last few years great activity has aroused 
special interest in these languages, and nearly all cities in Scandinavian 
centers have made Norwegian, Swedish and Danish a part of the 
regular high school course. In their efforts to obtain this privilege, 
the Scandinavians received the loyal support of the foremost American 
educators in their various states, a fact that is much appreciated. 
This effort to bring the language and literature into our American 
schools is the most legitimate manner in which to establish Scandi- 
navian culture as a permanent addition to American culture, and 
through the national sifting process, that which is most needed 
and best, will be retained. It is worthy of notice, that this effort is 
largely promulgated by the Americanized Scandinavians, who with 
difficulty can speak the Scandinavian tongue. It appears evident that 
they are aware of their loss and anxious to have re-established the 
opportunity for their posterity. 

We have thus far considered only the — anti-Americanizing factors ; 
but many and more pro-Americanizing factors may be mentioned. 
Their potency is great, and every immigrant bows more or less, sooner 
or later, to their influence. To enumerate them is impossible, as, 
generally speaking, what the immigrant sees and hears, the air he 
breathes, the soil he steps on, is American, No wonder, that unless 
the newcomers are insusceptible to impressions, they soon Americanize. 
Especially must this be true if they come here to establish permanent 
homes, as to them it is an advantage to become "acclimated," and "be 
a hero in the strife." The Scandinavian soon discovers that to be a 
"greeny" is distinctly a handicap to success ; hence, gracefully and 
willingly he submits to the Americanizing factors. Though everything 
about us is an American force, there are, however, certain ones that 
must receive special mention, and that may be classed as direct agen- 
cies in the process of Americanization. 

As the first and direct means we must mention our public school, 
the great melting pot of America. Here all meet on common ground. 



IN AMERICA 43 

with the same teachers, same classrooms, Hebrew, Greek and Gentile, 
side by side, one great democracy where democratic American principles 
are expounded for about twelve years or more in the life of our youth. 
These years represent the time of the greatest plasticity and suscepti- 
bility in the life of the human being. No vivid imagination is needed 
to understand the significance of this to the youth of the country, be 
they immigrant children or native born. 

The school has an indirect influence upon the parents. The chil- 
dren receive their instruction at school, discuss it at home with brothers, 
sisters and parents, all, whether young or old, conforming more or less 
to the argument. To the large majority of school children even the 
dictates of the teachers are 'aw and verity, hence they will defend them 
in no uncertain terms. 

In the rural districts in the northwest innumerable instances may 
be found where the immigrant father depends on his "boy" in school 
to translate and inform him regarding points of important detail. In 
other communities the rural school districts are, and must be, super- 
vised by the rural immigrants, as they have the exclusive possession 
of the land. They rarely do anything beyond "hiring" the teachers 
and issue the warrants granting their pay. The course of study and 
the selection of text-books being generally left to the teachers and 
superintendents. The County Superintendent of Schools, whose chief 
duty is to examine and license teachers, is too often a "political product," 
hence, when a son or daughter of an influential voter seeks a "teacher's 
certificate" it is generally granted without due regard to the qualifica- 
tion of the applicant. Such teachers assume the duties of their pro- 
fession and undertake to teach and "draw up" — bring up — the children 
entrusted to their care. 

The above description shows our public schools as managed by 
immigrants; their efficiency as a means of Americanization is, of 
course, greatly reduced in that case and in many instances is made to 
inculcate foreign principles. This is especially true when the teacher 
may belong to the immigrant class. In spite of these discrepancies, 
the school will ultimately reach its goal and be a truly American 
product. Where it is not, may we not believe that it serves its pur- 
pose, but by being what circumstances make it? To the Scandinavians 
the public school is nothing new, school attendance in their native 



44 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

land is compulsory, they come prepared and eager to reap its benefits. 
In the middle-west, where the Scandinavians are most numerous, and 
where we must go if we wish to study them as a people in America, 
few homes are found where the sons and daughters have not made 
faithful use of the public school. The people own a large number of 
high schools which are well attended. This, however, does not detract 
from their interest in the state schools, as is amply proven by the 
state Normal Schools and Universities in Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, 
Wisconsin and Illinois. The schools, being thus zealously sought and 
faithfully attended, must be a potent factor in the making of the 
American Nation. 

BUSINESS, by many supposed to be the "Royal Road" to wealth 
and the source of the much sought dollar, has not the charm to a 
Scandinavian that it has to many others. If it had, they would not 
to-day be the owners of our best country homes and lands. How- 
ever, in discussing business as a factor, we must consider it first as a 
factor acting upon the individual and secondly as the means through 
which the immigrant is gradually changed by himself being the owner 
or proprietor of a "business," in what is to him a foreign country. 
The centers of business in a community, if conducted on an American 
plan by Americans, are educational factors. The proprietor, wishing 
to establish his interests, will cater to the good will of the foreigners, 
rendering such assistance as he can to them in their attempt to con- 
form to and adopt the American customs. The requests for assistance 
are many and varied, and offer excellent opportunity for exploiting 
the immigrant, should he so desire. It may be said, however, of the 
American business man, that he cannot be accused of having abused 
this opportunity in any great degree. The above recited facts are 
especially applicable to the country towns throughout our vast rural 
districts, where the immigrants have settled. In large cities these 
conditions are otherwise met. A different phase of the question ap^^ears 
when the business man is one of the immigrants who may have arrived 
a few years earlier and during this time has "clerked" in some 
"American Store," as the nature of the American business demanded 
a salesman who could speak the foreign language or languages of the 
people visiting the place of business. Having thus become familiar 



IN AMERICA 45 

with the business and the people, he will soon be a competitor with his 
former employer. In the middle-west innumerable instances of the 
above are found. 

The particular business is the mercantile line and general store. 
The majority of such business places conducted by the immigrants in 
the middle west began in a very primitive form, — sugar, coflfee, tobacco, 
overalls and green leather boots being the staple articles of nearly 
every "country store." Their earnings paved the way for an extension 
of the business, and in a few years many had established enterprises 
of considerable magnitude. Very few large establishments, however, 
are to be found owned and controlled exclusively by Scandinavians, 
as they lacked the commercial instinct, and their financial resources 
were limited. What they had at their command when arriving were 
strong hands and a willingness to endure hard work. These were 
qualities rather than material means. Having more of these qualities 
than means, we can easily understand why they are not found in "big 
business," but rather in agriculture. There is in the middle-west a 
Scandinavian Bank in nearly every Scandinavian town or village, the 
bank being usually what is termed a State Bank, as the cash capital 
required for such an institution is only $10,000, whereas for a National 
Bank $25,000 is the minimum. Their limited capital is clearly the 
cause for the large number of State Banks. Of recent years they are 
gradually entering larger business relations, as the second and third 
generations have inherited and acquired means, besides having received 
valuable experience as salesmen and bookkeepers in American business 
establishments. Being a progressive people, they soon embark upon 
thir own careers as business men, the last fact proves the statement, — 
the Scandinavians are becoming qualified and have the means for lar^e 
business. 

Closely connected with business and usually found in every town 
is the Town Hall, used for political and civic purposes. Their political 
gatherings are generally held in these halls, and in the rural school 
houses, the speaker being some young, ambitious man "running" for 
county attorney, superintendent of schools, or some local office. As in 
business, so in their political gatherings, the meetings are arranged 
either by the Americans for the purpose of the votes they may receive, 
or by some politically ambitious man of their clan. In either case 



46 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

much merit can be ascribed to the poHtical gathering. In all cities 
having a considerable percentage of Scandinavians, political associations 
or clubs are found. These, however, are usually furthered by some 
party or parties for personal gains. The selfish politician preys upon 
the Scandinavian people as upon others through the various means 
at his command; as one of these, v^e may mention the AMERICAN 
PRESS. This powerful factor for good and bad in our national life 
does not exert the influence upon the immigrant that is generally 
accorded it, as their knowledge of the English language is so limited 
that they read it with difficulty. The large city papers especially "miss 
their mark" in this line. The local county papers yield a far greater 
influence through their short and direct attack or defence of a candi- 
date or cause. 

The general influence of the American press is, and will continue 
to be, quite limited, on all immigrants not familiar with the English 
language; e. g., the Press first becomes a factor in the life of the native 
born generation. Others are susceptible only to a small degree to 
American influence through this factor, a fact which is not to be de- 
plored. The Press, however, as a social force is one thing and the 
Scandinavians as a social force is another, and the former need not be 
discussed under the heading of the latter. 

The last of the direct means of Americanization is the result of 
being CO-WORKERS. As the Public School was considered the 
great melting pot for "young America," so may the factories, the 
shops and the many other establishments which bring many thousands 
of men of every type in daily contact, be considered the melting pot 
for the vast number of adults. In the places mentioned, the Americans 
may not prevail numerically, but our American language is made the 
common meeting ground for the German, the Jew, the Italian, and 
the Scandinavians. The accepted common language, and the American 
surroundings make this condition a powerful process of Americaniza- 
tion. It is to be noted, however, that this process has a tendency to 
make a people peculiar to themselves, retaining and receiving, as 
they inevitably must, from one another more or less of the respective 
peculiar racial characteristics. Evidently, it was this Senator Bailey 
of Texas had in mind when he, on the floor of the Senate, in discussing 



IN AMERICA 47 

the Immigration bill, said that the Senators from New York were not 
and could not be true representatives of what is American, as their 
constituency was too tainted with European or foreign traits. 

Further evidence of foreign marks is found in oft-quoted expres- 
sions, such as "You understand," which is so largely used in "the 
East" by ail classes of people, and is the result of a large number of 
people speaking to one another in a language of which one or both 
parties have only a limited knowledge. The shrug of the shoulders like- 
wise so common in the same centers of population is an Italian char- 
acteristics ; the wave of the hand, so evident even in an ordinary 
conversation, is acquired from an unconscious imitation and daily 
contact with the Jews. 

Generally, however, the influence of the shops and factories are 
favorable to American citizenship. Our language must be spoken more 
or less. For this reason a man who may have arrived in America 
only a few years ago prefers to speak English after having worked for 
a comparatively short time in such surroundings. The man having 
adopted the language of our country, will also more readily adopt our 
customs, manners and culture. As words are vehicles of thought, and 
unless a man is a hypocrite, so a man is and does what he thinks. 

From the above we can understand why Scandinavians Americcinize 
so rapidly — they accept our language, think our thoughts, and hence 
do as we do. 

Having discussed the final factor under the direct means of 
Americanization, a few words on the indirect will be added. Gen- 
erally the immigrants will accept the people of the country as of 2 
higher standard than themselves in the social, literary and political life. 
The immigrant being unable to speak the language, is often considere<i 
ignorant, whereas in his own mother tongue he may be quite equ?^ 
in education to the people in his adopted land. Things may be similar 
and yet quite unlike. This is a condition especially applicable ta the 
various countries. The immigrant may know thoroughly how a certain 
thing was done at home, but in attempting to apply the same methods 
in this country, will fail utterly. Hence the apparent ignorance. As 
stated, the immigrants feel the superiority of the population of the 
country. For this reason, they recognize the prestige of English in 



48 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

social, literary and political life. Generally they will endeavor to con- 
form to this higher prestige of the English language and American 
conditions. 

To the immigrant the American is the dominant race, with higher 
standards which the immigrant desires to reach. To them it means an 
improvement in manners and in culture, which when acquired will 
bring them progress, and generally assist them in their ambition to 
reach their goal in the new country. Thus the immigrant uncon- 
sciously becomes more plastic under the American agencies of 
Americanization. 

We have noted the means of Americanization. We may ask the 
question "Should foreigners be Americanized with the greatest speed?" 
The natural answer is "Yes, the sooner the better." We are not so 
certain that the question has only one side, hence a brief discussion 
of the two sides will follow. 

The desirability of Americanization is over-emphasized, due, 
probably, to a wrong conception of what is American. What is truly 
American is not easily ascertained, as we have no place where the 
population belongs to an original American race. The Swedes and 
Germans in Pennsylvania may have been there for ten generations. In 
the middle-west we have the first and second generations, — by birth 
they are all Americans, but they are not alike. The conception of 
what is American is different. In other places we have other nation- 
alities who may have been here for ten generations. They are differ- 
ent from any of the above mentioned; all, however, are Americans, 
but the racial characteristics of the original race are manifest. The 
"Pennsylvania Dutch" and the Swedes of Delaware may be as truly 
representative of the American as "the New Englander," although the 
latter may claim to be the only representative of what is truly American. 
The German or Scandinavian trait Americanized for centuries is as 
much American as an English or French trait which has lived for the 
same length of time in our country. America is yet in the "making," 
and time will make it. Centuries will be required for this process of 
amalgamation; our nation is as yet to a large extent an immigrant 
nation or the result of such, — hence foreign traits must be accepted 
as part of the very essence of true Americanism. To Americanize in 
New York is one thing, to Americanize in Wisconsin, Minnesota or 



IN AMERICA 4» 

Texas is quite another thing. We must not have too narrow a con- 
ception of what is American. If we have, several brands of Ameri- 
canism must be accepted. 

Ripley rightly considers the various tendencies and traits found in 
Norway. He distinguishes between the coast people of "Westlanders" 
and the "Easterners." He locates the purest representatives of the 
Teutonic race in Guldsbrandsdalen and Odalen in Norway. Similarly 
such conditions are found more or less in every country. If found in 
the old European countries with limited territory and more than two 
thousand years of time for amalgamation, have we any right to expect 
America, with the vast territory and comparatively limited time, to have 
accomplished completely this process? On the one hand, assimilation 
should be more difficult to-day, as every nation is more firmly estab- 
lished than a thousand years ago; on the other hand, less difficult as 
the modern means of travel, and the press, make the nations and the 
world more like one people. 

As to the above facts, Ross, in his "Foundations of Sociology," 
says, p. 386, "The anthropologist thinks he can perceive a distinct 
American type, the formation of which he would attribute not to cli- 
mate or crossing of strains, but to the same process that creates 
improved varieties of domestic plants or animals ; viz., selection." 

It is not to be inferred, however, that we have no distinct American 
type, but this type is not yet fixed and should not be made too narrow. 
If we do so, Americanism would mean the Americanized foreigner 
from some special European country. What, then, may be considered 
the American characteristic? Ross, in his Foundations of Sociology, 
p. 389, says it is "Energy of will." Evidence of this is seen in business 
competition, or as the author just quoted says in the same paragraph — 
"In the conquest of the wilderness, in our faith in efficiency as the only 
goal of education." No people pardons more to the successful man or 
holds the persistently poor in such pity and contempt as weaklings that 
cannot get into the game. In the American, action predominates over 
imagination and reflection. Ross, Foundations of Sociology, p 389 — 
"He is the true anti-Buddhist, the Occidental raised to the wth power. 
Hence, the American rocking-chair, solace of the over-tired. Hence, 
'Time is money,' 'Boil it down,' 'Twenty minutes for dinner,' etc. The 



50 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

editorial is read instead of the magazine article, — to the women are 
relegated religion, literature, art, social elegancies, — whatever, in short, 
demands repose." 

In order that we may have an authoritative and unbiased descrip- 
tion for "American," Ross is quoted : "The strong will of the Ameri- 
can heeds nothing but the goal. The high voltage American of the 
pioneer breed contemns hardship and risk, braves alike White Pass 
and Death Valley." 

Ross, Foundations of Sociology, p. 390: "In sport or in battle, 
no one will stand more punishment than he. Body, appetites, inclina- 
tions, — all are gripped in the iron vise of his will. Unsparing of him- 
self, he is reckless in sacrificing others. His impulses are kindly, but 
woe to those whose rights or lives block his way." 

"The enjoying of things requires the passive attitude, letting 
things work on you. The reign of the active spirit therefore makes 
ours a producers' society rather than a consumers' society. We neglect 
no trifle that will lowfer the cost, but overlook little things that add to 
comfort. In London there are hotels where the morning paper is 
warmed before it is handed to you. In Berlin there are restaurants 
where they give you an electric stirrer with thermometer inserted to 
bring your beer to just the right temperature. The New World for 
making money, the Old World for spending it. Hence the active 
come to us, the idle rich desert us. We do not learn to dawdle 
gracefully. An American crowd never effervesces with gayety like 
the holiday throng in Europe." 

"Guile is the resource of the feeble, the weapon of the down- 
trodden. The born American, on the other hand, feels able to win 
without stopping. Conscious of strenght, he prefers to speak the truth 
and play fair, not as something due to others, but as something due 
to himself. But for all that he owes to himself to succeed. Where 
business or political competition becomes fierce, this native morality is, 
therefore, comprised by the determination to succeed at any cost. 
Hence a queer, ring-straked conscience that does not stick at corrup- 
tion, fraud and grand larceny, yet keeps faith with foes and warns 
before striking." 

"In point of intellect Americans are not clearly differentiated from 
the mother stocks. Although free from the ox-like "man-with-the-hoe" 



IN AMERICA 51 

— that sort finding here no chance to survive or mate — we must not 
impute to ourselves unusual mental capacity. The change a few years 
of our electrifying ozone works in the dull-, fat-witted immigrant 
suggests that our proverbial alertness, cleverness and lucidity betokens 
stimulus rather than brain power. It is, after all, the high peaks that 
count, and no one is so rash as to assert that our crop of geniuses per 
million is heavier than that of Scotland and Switzerland. It is only 
by counting in our inventors — mostly mechanical — and our captains 
of industry that we can offset our deficit of eminent men in literature, 
art and science." 

"Albeit we travel on a rising curve of civilization, anthropologically 
we are at our zenith, for the westward shifting of people has slackened, 
and the bracing selections of the frontier have well-nigh ceased. 
Indeed, it is quite possible that in 1860, before the Great Killing and 
the Great Dilution, the human stuff here was some carats finer than it 
is to-day." 

"The Civil War cost half a million men well above the average 
in physique and spirit. The South lost her flower. In the North 
the impulsive were decimated, while the calculating stayed at home and 
multiplied. Had this splendid half million lived, the Old World would 
not have peopled the trans-Mississippi region, and the nomenclature 
of many a Western town would be different to-day. The blood of the 
nation was lastingly impoverished by that awful hemorrhage. The 
cheap stucco manikins from Southeastern Europe do not really take 
the place of the unbegotten sons of the granite men who fell at Gettys- 
burg and Cold Harbor. Had this sterling humanity not been squan- 
dered would the South be so hysterical or the North so graft-rotted as 
is the case to-day?" 

"Then came the Great Dilution to pull down the average." 
"The flood of immigration now flows from different sources, and 
taps lower human levels than the earlier tide. Over-persuaded, from 
Croatia and Dalmatia and Sicily and Armenia, they throng to us, the 
beaten members of beaten breeds, often the more aboriginal men that 
have been elbowed aside or left behind in the swayings of the mightier 
European races. Do these Slovaks and Syrians add as much to the 
strength of the human piers that support our civilization as Scotch, 
Irish or Scandinavians? As undersized in spirit, no doubt, as they 



52 SCANDLNAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

are in body, the later comers lack the ancestral foundations of American 
character, and even if they catch step with us they and their children 
will, nevertheless, impede our progress." 

"The inrush from the lesser breeds has not stayed the march of 
industry or commerce or science or education, for these are in the 
capable hands of picked men. But the newcomer counts one at the 
polls, and hence it is in our politics that the sag is most evident. The 
higher types of men are prompted to act together because they believe 
in the same principle, or love the same ideal. The inferior pull together 
from clannishness or allegiance to a leader. The growing disposition 
to rally about persons and the rising value of the saloon-keeper, the 
ex-pugilist and the boss in controlling city voters would indicate that 
the electorate has been debased by the too free admission of political 
incapables." 

"The strife between labor and capital has been aggravated by 
ethnic difference. The employer has been more haughty, the employee 
more turbulent, than if they had stood on one race plane. Caste widens 
the gulf between them and the Edenic reasonableness of the Antipodes 
is hardly for us to hope." 

"Dilution, however, need not spell decline. The psychology of 
the superior third of the people creates the spirit v»'hich ultimately 
comes to dominate the rest. It gives rise to ideals, which, under the 
pressure of divers social atmospheres, penetrate to the soul's marrow 
and become a second nature. This is why, despite the swelling influx 
of the inferior, that emanation of the pioneering breed, the American 
spirit, is still clear, strong and triumphant. Never has the psychic 
whirlwind here had more power to seize and bear aloft lowly men than 
it has to-day. The social body quivers throughout under our forced- 
draft pace." 

"Free land is gone, however, and the fact that nowadays the hegira 
of the ambitious is all to the man-stifled town instead of to the spacious, 
prolific frontier may be fateful for the American element in our popu- 
lation. The great glittering cities attract the brightest youths from the 
farms and tempt them to strain for the prizes of success. But what 
with shortened lives, bachelorhood, late or childless marriages, and small 
families, the cities constitute so many blast furnaces, where the talented 



IN AMERICA 53 

rise and become incandescent, to be sure, but for all that are incin- 
erated without due replacement. Thus may run down a race keyed 
up by the migrations of more than two centuries." 

In a former chapter it was stated that variation is necessary to 
progress ; hence why should our attempts be at a complete unification 
or assimilation? It is evident that every immigrant coming to America 
should become an integral part of the country. This process, however, 
must be along natural lines, and not in a forced manner. Hot-house 
plants may look well, but they have not the hardihood and conditions 
of resistance equal to that of a plant raised in the open, and as such 
has been subjected to the winds and the strong air. Similarly, the 
immigrant who is forced to Americanize may acquire the American 
veneer, but lack the true inner nature which should regulate the 
external condition of the man. Even though we concede that all or 
the majority of our immigrants intend to become citizens of this 
country, and to identify themselves with the development of it, we 
cannot expect them to break off all allegiance, remembrance and 
impressions of their fatherland in a day. The Honorable Charles 
Nagel, Secretary of Commerce and Labor, says in his article on 
"Loyalty to One's Country" : "I shall never forget the first time I 
returned to the native country of my parents. When I looked 
upon the red roofs among the green trees of Bremerhaven, I felt that I 
had at one time lived there. Such was the influence of the mother coun- 
try upon the bringing up of an American boy." There is no reason why 
the best sentiments in the human heart should be destroyed when it 
is the best that can be contributed to American citizenship. "You 
may believe in traditions," says Charles Nagel, "and you may be 
anxious to bring to the attention of this country the great achievements 
and the brilliant history of your ancestors. I go further than that ; 
I am not only anxious to impress this country with the greatness of 
my forefathers, but I believe that the fullest development of the 
United States depends upon our getting the fullest benefit of every- 
thing that very other country can contribute." This is accomplished 
through time ; and must be the result of a natural adaptation to the 
conditions of America. The different forces at work in our United 
States can not be brought together at once. The conditions under which 



54 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

the citizenship of this country is made up, are constantly changing. 
The foreigners came to our country by invitation or by consent, 
and we do not have substitution, but amalgamation, of the com- 
ponent parts. Hence we must endeavor to retain the virtues of the 
nations and to eradicate the vices. America needs the taste of the 
French, the capacity for intensive study of the Germans, and the 
tact of the Dane. 

The further discussion of this subject will be continued under three 
different phases. The first we will call stage One, this being the 
period following the immediate landing of the immigrant, when results 
of foreign training are manifest in thoughts, words and deeds. An 
attempt to make a foreigner a complete American at this stage would 
and ought to fail. Though walking on American soil and surrounded 
by an environment quite American, the thoughts, i. e., his soul life, 
is and will remain for a considerable length of time, foreign, and must 
reflect the thoughts received whilst in his native land. With more or 
less success, he may be able to "think one thing, and do another 
thing," but generally the thought precedes the act, the latter being 
thought in action. During this time the immigrant may acquire more 
or less of the ability to speak and read our language, but the complaint 
is often heard that though the words are English, the thoughts are in 
the foreign language ; i. e., they think in one language and speak in 
another, a sort of silent translation. 

The Second stage represents the Scandinavian American who may 
be foreign born but who has become considerably Americanized by the 
means already mentioned in this chapter. The expression "Scan- 
dinavian-American" is commonly used m the middle-west to indicate 
this class of our American citizens, and includes men who have fought 
and suffered for our country during the Civil War and the Spanish- 
American War. 

The last and final stage in Americanization is reached when we 
have the American by birth, and American bv environment. We are 
informed that an individual is made what he is by physicjal and social --' 
heredity, and by the environment; if this is true, as it is, little remains 
to be added in order to have a complete American. It must be noted, 
however, that the above process is comparatively slow and not as 



IN AMERICA 55 

rapid as the popular mind might demand it. Hence the conclusion — ■ 
Americanization is desirable, but only as rapidly as the country can 
absorb the immigrant and as rapidly as the immigrant may be able to 
become a part of the new conditions. 

"Lat OS ikkje forfederna gloyma, 
Under alt, som me venda og snu, 
For dei gav os ein arv til aa gjoyma, 
Han er storre, ann mange vil tru. 

Lat det merkjast i meir enn i ordi, 
At me halda den arven istand, 
At, naar federne sjaa att paa jordi, 
Dei kan kjenna sitt folk af sitt land." 

IvAR Aasen. 



CHAPTER V. 

The Economic Influence of Scandinavians in America. 

Every immigrant arriving in this country becomes an economic 
factor. He must join forces either with the producing or the con- 
suming class. The Scandinavians have especially been identified with 
the former, which constitutes largely the agricultural class, and have 
also furnished its quota to the consuming class. When in the preceding 
chapter we described the Scandinavians as having more qualities for 
work than means for business, we also gave the reason why they are 
capable and have attained success in the agriculture of our country. 
Agriculture contributes the three indispensable needs in the life of every 
civilized man, — food, clothing and shelter. More persons are engaged 
in this occupation than in any other. About one-third of the popu- 
lation of the United States are farmers. The importance of this 
industry, however, is not only in its numerical strength, but in the 
fact that it produces most of the food supply for the nation, and the 
raw material for several other industries. When on the following pages 
we use the general term "farm" we think of the "running" of a 
farm, and the raising of products on the land. The word "agriculture" 
is often used to include all the enterprises connected with the farm. 
As there is no real distinction between farming and agriculture, these 
words in this chapter will be used as synonymous terms. 

America is one of the most independent nations of the earth, this 
independence being due not only to the American spirit, but also to the 
sense that every American has as to the value of the immense natural 
resources and productive farm lands throughout the country. Up to 
the present time, through the high tariff system, foreign goods of 
nearly every description have been barred, this being possible, as the 
country is, generally speaking, "self-supporting." The three necessities 
of life mentioned, food, clothing, shelter, are amply produced by the 

56 



IN AMERICA 57 

American farmer. It is to the interest of the farmer that production 
is limited, as the less the production the greater the demand and the 
consequent higher prices. It is weiJ U> remember that the most vigorous 
objection to the Reciprocity Treaty with Canada came from the 
American farmer. He feared that by opening the market of the United 
States to the Canadian farmer, competition would become active, and 
lower prices would be the inevitable result. 

The magnitude and importance of agriculture is clearly seen in the 
report of ex-Secretary James Wilson, who served as Secretary of 
Agriculture for sixteen years, 1897-1913. The first year of his service 
began with a yearly farm production worth Four Billion Dollars, and 
the last closed with Nine Billion Five Hundred and Thirty-two Million 
Dollars. The farmer, in spite of abandoned farms, is making a steady 
increase in his wealth production from year to year. "Considering," 
says Mr. Wilson, "the wealth produced on farms in 1899 to be 
regarded as 100, the wealth produced sixteen years ago or in 1897 
represented by 84, and the wealth produced 1912 by 202.1. During the 
sixteen years the farmers' wealth production increased 141." These 
figures represent the farmers' contribution to the wealth of the nation, 
and shows its "basic importance to the nation." He further states that 
during the last sixteen years, his term of office, the wealth production 
on farms reached the grand total of more than One Hundred and 
Five Billion Dollars. "This stream of wealth has poured out of the 
farmers' horn of plenty, and in sixteen years has equalled about three- 
fourths of the present national wealth." The year 1912 produced 
enormous crops, only two, wheat and tobacco, have been exceeded 
twice in production, and only two, cotton and rice, have been exceeded 
once in production. "All of the other crops stand at the 'high water 
mark.' " As an evidence of the growth of agriculture, Mr. Wilson 
calls attention to the progress made in the Department of Agriculture 
during his sixteen years of service. He began with what he terms 
the kindergarten department and leaves it with "a thousand tongues 
speaking with authority." Bureas have been created for various lines 
of work. Investigation and administration as to methods and improve- 
ment of farming has added greatly to scientific agriculture. "The 
department has become a great agriculture university of post-graduate 
work." In 1897 the department of agriculture had 2,444 employees, 



58 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

and an appropriation of $3,272,902. At the close of the last presidential 
administration it had 13,858 employees and an appropriation for 1912 
of about $25,000,000. There is now an average of 52,000 requests 
every v^^eek for departmental publications ; in 1897 the average was 500 
per week. During Mr. Wilson's sixteen years of service, 225 million 
copies were distributed. From the above figures we must admit the 
enormous growth of agriculture in our country. In order, however, to 
arrive at a just conclusion as to where the country stands to-day with 
respect to agriculture, the figures must be taken relatively. During the 
last decade the population of the United States, as a whole, increased 
21 per cent. The rural population, however, increased only 11.2 per 
cent. The increase in the number of farms during the period was 
10.9 per cent. The value of farm property from 1900 to 1910 increased 
100.5 per cent. The greater part of this immense increase was in the 
land itself, the value of which increased 118.1 per cent.; the average 
size of farms decreased from 146.2 acres in 1900 to 138.1 acres in 
1910. This shows a tendency slowly but surely toward the smaller 
farm. The population increasing, and no more government land to be 
given away, the general acreage must become less, which will also mean 
more intensive and less extensive farming. It is significant that the 
decrease or slow increase in the rural population throughout the large 
areas of the United States is not due to the absence of agricultural 
prosperity. States showing a decrease or only very slight increase in 
rural population during the past decade show a large increase in the 
value of farm property. In spite of this splendid financial showing 
and apparent prosperity, large numbers of young people leave the farms. 
The loss of this rural population is due to economic, social and educa- 
tional causes, as will appear later in the chapter. The economic cause 
which has driven so many from the farms may be clearly pointed out, 
and began about twenty-five years ago. At that time the "hard times" 
for the farmer prevailed throughout the country. To raise grain and 
cattle at a constant loss or for the "board" is a vocation that even the 
most sanguine will not pursue for any length of time. Raising wheat 
at 40 cents per bushel when 75 cents per bushel is the least at which 
it can be raised and bring a small profit to the producer will not 
attract the ambitious youth of the country. Such were the agricultural 



IN AMERICA 59 

economic conditions which prevailed for many years, and that caused 
the exodus from the country to the city. Sheer necessity drove the 
youth to seek something better. However, the faithful remained, and 
received their just reward. During the period mentioned, it was 
necessary that young and old, men and women, work on the farm. 
This the Scandinavians and the Germans were willing to do. Women 
"pitching" wheat bundles, haying and plowing, was no uncommon 
sight at that time. The return "in cash" received for farm products 
was so small that it forbade the hiring of farm laborers. The repre- 
sentatives of the Scandinavian nations were among the few who would 
endure such extreme hardships, many farmers of other nationalities 
sacrificed their land at a very low price or entirely abandoned it. 
This explains why to-day the Scandinavians and the Germans are the 
owners of our best farms and country homes. It is said out West 
that when passing through the rural districts, it is possible only by 
ordinary observation to distinguish the homes of the Scandinavians 
and the Germans from those of their fellow farmers of whatever race 
they may be. Good, well-kept buildings, orderly farm yards, tell the 
tale. 

The cause just mentioned, the economic, is specific. Another 
which may be considered equally decisive in its effect is the desire for 
Social privileges and opportunities. Especially the young people leave 
the land because of the dreariness and the lack of fascinations and 
charms so prominent in even the smallest country villages. The com- 
forts (and luxuries) of city life contrast strongly with the smoking 
candle and their soiled working clothes. It is in the cities the country 
youth acquire the new tastes and habits which they never can renounce, 
and in which they freely indulge in city life, — hence they remain. 
.Should they by chance return to the plow, it is but for a short time. 
The weary and monotonous life of the field has not the charms to 
overcome their longing for city life, and so at the first opportunity 
they return. Their "great ambition" is to become FUNCTIONARIES, 
postmen, shop-walkers or railway employees. The women have not 
escaped the contagion. They have become fascinated by the sights and 
the styles of the town. Jules Meline in "The Return to the Land," 
p. 92, says : "They have derived from them a taste for gaiety and 



60 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

fine dresses and holiday making. On their return their village seems 
to them dull, the farm dirty and dismal, and their work repugnant; 
the laborer seems to them dull and loutish compared with the seductive 
youths who have lavished money on them in the towns. The role of 
the farmer's wife seems to them despicable and they will have nothing 
to do with any of the young men of the village except those who have 
become clerks or functionaries. This picture suggests something of 
the change that has come over the life of most of our villages during 
the last twenty years. We can instance several cases of agricultural 
families which have given up splendid properties with aching hearts 
because their sons could not find women to marry them and share theii 
life in the country." 

The new science of agriculture endeavors to remedy the short- 
comings of the farm. The rural mail deliver)^ rural telephones, the 
invention of gas and electric lighting systems, the gasoline motor, 
modern farm machinery for every kind of work, and last but not least, 
the automobile, will bestow the coveted dignity sought by nearly every 
human being, even upon the farmer. Hence we may expect a return to 
the land movement. Another reason the farmer felt the humbleness 
of his industry was the fact that scientific agriculture did not keep pace 
with the general science pertaining to the manufacturing industries 
which fascinated all eyes, absorbed all minds, and gave rise to all kinds 
of hopes. When science turned towards agriculture, the latter soon 
realized that it was the first of all industries, not because it was the 
most necessary, but because it was the most elevated, scientifically, 
being, in its essence, the center, — as all sciences, find the soil their 
particular field. Though farming may be reinstated in its place from 
the standpoint of science, it must also be reinstated from the domain 
of economics. The humility inflicted upon it in former years is still felt, 
and much remains to be done before it can rank in popularity with the 
competitive industries. It is well to point out to the city dwellers, the 
present high standing of the farmer and his future possibilities. New 
openings are needed every day for labor, as the more difficult the 
labor problem becomes in the factories of our cities, the stronger will 
the movement of back to the land become. Jules Meline, p. 83, says: 
"What is to become of our countless workers unable to find work? 
There is but one opening, one resource for them — an opening wide 



IN AMERICA 61 

enough for all, and resources that will be inexhaustible for centuries 
yet to come — the land." Truly one million people less in New York 
City and the fertile prairies of North Dakota increased by the sume 
number would be a boon to the city and state, and alleviate a great 
deal of suffering for the idle million of this great city. The land is 
calling for tillers and ofifers vast opportunities. The Scandinavians 
have heard the call, obeyed it, and have chosen the most fertile land 
found in the United States. The "bread basket of the world," the 
popular name of the Red River Valley of the North, is owned by 
them. 

The economic and social conditions of the Scandinavian immigrants 
did not prevent them from "homesteading" in the North Central 
States, as they were not trained to ease and luxury. Their life was 
that of the common peasant, which explains their aptitude for farming 
and desire for a home in their adopted land. When arriving in our 
country the Scandinavians brought their families, or if unable to bring 
them at once, prepared and sought to bring them at the very earliest 
opportunity. With the family came the need of a home, and as they 
had severed all economic connections with their native land, they had 
one aim, viz., to establish permanent homes. At first these were very 
primitive, being what is called "dug-outs," "sod-houses," or where they 
settled in the forests, log houses. From the outside such houses might 
look uninviting; on the inside, however, they were generally well 
finished, being ph.stered, very often "papered," and tidy, which added 
to the home comfort. In many instances terra firma unadorned consti- 
tuted the floor, which, however, was generally kept quite clean. In 
other instances where it could be afforded, rough boards sawed from 
trees that might be nearest at hand, were used for flooring. Imbued 
with a spirit of permanency and the spirit of the Viking which always 
rebels against "cramped" conditions, they were moved to frugality and 
prudence, which in turn made it possible for them to improve their 
homes. Hence very soon, and in many instances, the sod hut was 
replaced by what may be properly called mansions. Many rural homes 
are now as completely equipped as the majority of city homes, having 
their central heating plant, hot and cold water, complete bath-room 
equipment, a small electric or gas plant from which light is obtained 
in the yard, the barn, the granary and other houses necessary on a 



62 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

complete farm. The home is usually well provided with, though not 
always, well selected pictures and other pieces of art. The flooring is 
no longer terra firma unadorned, but hard maple floors covered with 
rugs of a fair quality. The above described homes are among the best 
and are such as every nation may be proud of. 

It is often argued that the foreigners coming to our country rob 
the Americans of their opportunities. This may be partly true, yet the 
districts in the United States where the immigrant has not interfered 
with the native American does not substantiate the charge. Before we 
can have good counry homes, we must have those who can and will 
build them; before we can have agriculture, we must have a class of 
people who have the aptitude and the traits necessary for being farmers. 
Not all who might wish to be tillers of the soil would make successful 
farmers. Europeans traveling through the United States bestow many 
laurels upon the American farm home, which in so many instances m 
the states mentioned, are built by the Scandinavians and the Germans. 

A dark cloud, however, hangs over the future of the American- 
Scandinavian farm-house, as the parents lack wisdom to parcel out 
their large farm to their children as they become of age, the father 
retains the land and thus inflicts the necessity of the young people leav- 
ing the homestead for the city or other rural districts. When the 
parents pass away, the sons and daughters have established their 
homes and can not assume charge of the "old place," hence this 
unfortunate arrangement is the cause of many farms going into the 
hands of other nationalities and threatens destruction to the Scandina- 
vian Communities. The people most eager to provide homes for their 
children are the Germans, and who for this reason are rapidly purchas- 
ing the farms of other races and thus establish a compact community. 
This means that the Germans have a strong tendency to cohere and 
make permanent communities while the Scandinavian settlements may 
disintegrate after the first generation ; hence the future of their present 
colonies is a matter of conjecture. 

Another statement may be added as to the Scandinavian parents ; 
they very much desire their sons to continue on the farms, but as 
"renters." This does not bring independence, but leaves the young 
people under the direct orders of their elders, and as the orders are 
often given in no uncertain terms and unfavorable to the son, it leaves 



IN AMERICA 63 

a condition too uncertain for a man having assumed the responsibility 
of being the head of a family. Their innate racial characateristic of 
wanting a home impels them to break the old ties and to seek condi- 
tions under which a home may be established, be it ever so humble. 

To analyze and give the reasons why this trait is found in the 
Scandinavians can be done only with difficulty. To say it is their 
nature, is not to state the cause. If we could say — why this nature, 
the question would be more nearly solved. In attempting to state a 
"why," two reasons will be given. It is conceded that with an inde- 
pendent nature follows a tendency to autocracy; this is seen in Norway 
at the time it had its numerous "smaa konger," literally little kings, 
each of whom ruled over his "valley" and immediate vicinity. The 
desire to rule was so great that constant internal strifes and battles 
prevailed between the smaa konger before the Norwegians became a 
unified whole or a nation. This same psychologic characteristic has 
continued down through history and was the cause of the abolition of 
the nobility and titles in Norway, though many still adhere to, and 
covet the supposed glory of the title. If all could not belong to the 
nobility, or have titles, then none should have it, hence the abolishment. 
The last feature reveals another strong trait ; namely, jealousy. As 
this trait, however, does not constitute an important part in the matter 
here discussed, it will not be further considered. Another factor which 
may explain their attitude to their children is the humble condition 
which surrounded them in their European homes; they were, with 
few exceptions, without any "real property." This made them what 
was termed "Husrrtand" ; i. e.. a husband and his family worked for 
the "Bonde" ; i. e., the owner of a farm ; for this they received a 
Husmand's quarters, and a very small allowance. The independent 
farmer of to-day of the Northwest belongs largely to this class, and 
it appears that the sense of ownership, which is new to him, makes 
him selfish even to his own kin, and in attempting to gratify this sense, 
even his sons and daughters must be made his servants in their mature 
years. 

It is necessary to include some statistical data of the agricultural con- 
ditions of the United States in order that a comparison of the various 
states may be made. As no statistics are found which show the extent 
of the contributions of the different nationalities to the agricultural 



64 



SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 



productions, the information obtained from such sources can be only by 
inference and comparison of the figures in the light of what has been 
said relative to the location of the different races. 

It is of interest to note that the states having a large percentage of 
Scandinavians also have a large percentage of "home-owners." In the 
table given below comprising those states where more than 55 per cent, 
of the families have homes, the Scandinavians are prominent : 



Indiana 


56.1 Over 5^ npr rent. 


Kansas 


59.1 " ' 


< 


Montana 


56.6 " ' 


. 


*Nebraska 


56.6 " ' 


< « 


*Iowa 


60.0 " ' 


. 


Maine 


64.0 " * 


« It 


*Michigan 


62.3 " ' 


< 


*Minnesota 


63.5 " ' 


<• 


Nevada 


66.2 " ' 


< 


New Mexico 


68.5 


( it 


Utah 


67.8 " ' 


I 11 


Vermont 


60.4 " ' 


< « 


♦Wisconsin 


66.4 


. 


Oklahoma 


71.8 " ' 


. 


*South Dakota 


71.2 " * 


. 


♦North Dakota 


80.0 " ' 


. 



Similarly, it may be seen from the following table, that in the 
production of wheat and butter, they rank high: 

Wheat production 

North Dakota 73,200,000 

Kansas 51,387,000 

Washington 50,661,000 

Butter 

Iowa 139,022,552 

New York 115,408,222 

Pennsylvania 111,358,246 

Wisconsin 106,552,649 

Ohio 87,638,930 

Illinois 86,548,702 

Michigan 67,872,710 



The above tables are extracts from the following tables, which give 
the percentages and figures in full: 



IN AMERICA 



65 



Abstract of Table No. 26 of Statistical Abstract of the United States, 1911. 

Native Native Families 

white of white of Foreign having 

native foreign white. homes 

parentage. parentage. per cent. 

Alabama 1,177,457 32,438 18,946 34.4 

Arizona 82,480 42,175 46,844 57.7 

Arkansas 1,077,509 36,608 16,913 47.7 

California 1,106,533 635,970 517,319 46.3 

Colorado 475,136 181,432 126,971 46.6 

Connecticut 395,649 374,546 328,737 39.0 

Delaware 127,809 25,873 17,421 36.3 

District of Columbia 166,711 45,066 24,351 24.0 

Florida 373,967 35,828 33,851 46.8 

Georgia 1,391,058 25,677 15,081 30.6 

Idaho 203,604 75,254 40,444 71.6 

Illinois 2,600,565 1,724,489 1,201,928 45.0 

Indiana 2,130,168 350,747 159,118 56.1 

Iowa 1,305,526 632,182 273,388 60.5 

Kansas 1,207,087 292,077 134,719 59.1 

Kentucky 1,863,157 124,775 40,023 51.5 

Louisiana 776,569 112,728 51,828 31.4 

Maine 494,918 135,188 109,911 64.8 

Maryland 766,628 191,841 104,176 40.0 

Massachusetts 1,103,361 1,170,793 1,050,899 35.0 

Michigan 1,224,841 965,217 595,200 62.3 

Minnesota 575,081 941,315 542,857 63.5 

Mississippi 757,233 19,495 9,391 34.5 

Missouri 2,387,909 518,341 228,695 50.9 

Montana 162,129 106,811 91,647 56.6 

Nebraska 642,075 262,353 175,883 56.8 

Nevada 35,313 20,956 18,102 66.2 

New Hampshire 230,231 103,118 96,560 53.9 

New Jersey 1,009,909 777,859 658,159 34.3 

New Mexico 255,609 26,331 22,662 68.5 

New York 3,230,154 3,007,507 2,729,260 33.2 

North Carolina 1,485,705 8,855 5 953 46.6 

North Dakota 162,461 251,256 156,138 80.0 

Ohio 3,033,275 1,024,377 597,255 52.5 

Oklahoma 1,310,403 94,044 40,088 71.8 

Oregon 416,851 135,241 103.002 58.7 

Pennsylvania 4,222,616 1,806,392 1,438,752 41.2 

Rhode Island 159,821 194,646 178,031 28.6 



217,478 


100,628 


71.2 


38,367 


18,460 


46.3 


361,926 


240,012 


46.5 


131,527 


63,404 


67.8 


75,055 


49,861 


60.4 


37,943 


26,628 


48.8 


282,529 


241,227 


54.8 


57,638 


57,072 


54.6 


,044,764 


512,569 


66.4 


32,497 


27,165 


55.2 



66 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

South Carolina 661,970 11,138 6,054 30.6 

South Dakota 245,665 

Tennessee 1,654,606 

Texas 2,602,958 

Utah 171,671 

Vermont 229,382 

Virginia 1,325,238 

Washington 585,401 

West Virginia 1,042,107 

Wisconsin 763,224 

Wyoming 80,711 

Abstract of Tables Nos. 86 and 94 of Statistical Abstract of the 
United States. 

Wheat Butter 

production production 

1911 1900 

Alabama 345,000 19,139,321 

Alaska 200 

Arizona 803,394 

Arkansas 1,008,000 21,753,833 

Cahfornia 8,640,000 34,000,497 

Colorado 8,274,000 6,499,121 

Connecticut 8,480,194 

Delaware 2,599,838 

Florida 1,386,445 

Georgia 1,740,000 15,160,454 

Hawaii 118,871 

Idaho 15,860,000 2,952,886 

Illinois 42,000,000 86,545,762 

Indiana 34,354,000 54,595,879 

Iowa 10,622,000 139,022,552 

Kansas 51,387,000 59,837,255 

Kentucky 9,906,000 30,631,044 

Louisiana 4,918,229 

Maine 20,635,572 

Maryland 9,378,000 11,638,378 

Massachusetts 9,572,181 

Michigan 18,450,000 67,872,710 

Minnesota 43,943,000 82,363,315 

Mississippi 18,929,761 

Missouri 36,110,000 46,949,726 

Montana 12,299,000 2,488,310 



IN AMERICA 67 

Nebraska 41,574,000 46,244,839 

Nevada 1,192,925 

New Hampshire 11,419,881 

New Jersey 7,219,882 

New Mexico 1,262,000 313,003 

New York 6,728,000 115,408,222 

North Carolina 6,636,000 16,913,802 

North Dakota 73,200,000 9,642,003 

Ohio 36,240,000 87,638,930 

Oklahoma 8,976,000 8,834,559 

Oregon 16,726,000 10,082,807 

Pennsylvania 17,402,000 111,358,246 

Rhode Island 636,281 

South Carohna 8,150,437 

South Dakota 14,800,000 23,573,077 

Tennessee 8,280,000 29,299,519 

Texas 6,580,000 48,244.206 

Utah 5,025,000 5,331,336 

Vermont 41,288,087 

Virginia 9,000,000 20,076,351 

W ashington 50,661,000 10,'5yO,527 

West Virginia 2,737,000 16,954,129 

Wisconsin 3,097,000 106,552.649 

Wyoming 918,054 



CHAPTER VI. 

Political and Social Influence of Scandinavians on Americans 
AND of Americans on Scandinavians. 

Scandinavians have a strong liking for politics. This may be due 
to the psychologic trait they have for discussions, — bickerings, strifes 
and their love for political freedom generally. 

For many years the immigrants from the X'orthem countries of 
Europe were staunch Republicans, party loyalty was so strong that any 
candidate nominated by their part)' would receive all but a few 
dissenting votes. It would appear that such loyalty is incompatible 
with their spirit of independence, yet facts sustained the statement 
throughout the first generation. In many rural communities the 
American politician often referred to the Scandinavian as his "voting 
cattle," by ascertaining who was the accepted clan leader and obtaining 
his support, no difficulty was experienced, as one fellow induced others 
to follow. Hon. John L. Gibbs, in an address delivered at EUendale. 
Minnesota, May 17, 1902, said of the political situation and the 
Scandinavians : "'You will find that in no state in our Union have 
you received your due. Where would the dominant party in the State 
of Illinois have been during the past thirty years but for the Scan- 
dinavian vote? And did you ever hear of a Scandinavian being 
placed on its state ticket until ver\- recently? What would have been 
the result of our state of Iowa? You know, and I need not tell you. 
A few years since a Scandinavian was given a place on the state ticket 
and four years ago one was elected to Congress. This year there is an 
effort made to leave him at home. I hope it will not succeed. In Xorth 
Dakota the Scandinavians outnumber all other classes combined, and 
they are not represented in either house of Congress. What is the 
situation in this state? We Americans, born of American parentage, 
constitute a little more than one-fifth of the population. I think we hold 
more than one-fifth of the offices. Where do you come in? The 

68 



IN AMERICA 69 

three branches of the Scandinavian family, counting those born of 
Scandinavian parentage, far outnumber us. There are fourteen elective 
state officers, counting the members of the Supreme Court. The 
Scandinavians hold one. Of the seven members of Congress there is 
not one Scandinavian. In Wisconsin, where an effort is being made to 
defeat the re-election of the lone Scandinavian Congressman, and in 
all the Western States the situation is similar to that of Minnesota." 

It has been stated that immigrant races wish to conform to the 
dominant race. This is especially true of the Northern, a trait which 
reveals a racial weakness and which is seen in their susceptibility to 
flattery at the hand of their American friends. A few complimentary 
words as to the bravery of the Normans and their heroic deeds will 
bring the desired result. 

However, during recent years this has changed, clannishness and 
dislike for the American politician is the condition to-day. In the 
state of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas, it is quiie a 
political asset to have a name ending in "son." In an article under 
the caption: Minesota by George Fitch. Copyrighted, 1912, by the 
Globe, the author humorously writes as follows : 

"Minnesota is an American State which has been borrowed by the 
Norwegians with great success. Owing to its steady and reliable 
winter it has become the lifetime resort for this hardy people who 
raise wheat, white whiskers, and American citizens with great fluency. 
Minnesota now has over two million people, half of whom have names 
ending in 'son.' " 

Minnesota produces more wheat, iron ore, and light-haired, blue- 
eyed statesmen than any other commonwealth. It has a state university 
which leads the world in the production of Clydesdale halfbacks, and 
has 5,000 students, all trained to yell 'Ski-U-Mah' in unison when the 
team scores on Michigan. It was born Republican, but was recently 
captured by Colonel Roosevelt after a hard tussle with neighbor La 
Follette. Besides. Minnesota has contributed Ignatius Donnelly, Adam 
Bede, Knute Nelson, James J. Hill, Archbishop Ireland, and other 
interesting citizens to its country, but her greatest feat in citizen-pro- 
ducing was John A. Johnson, who would have mixed up the Democratic 
convention at Baltimore more than ever, had he lived. Minnesota 



70 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

mourns his death sincerely, but has 100,000 more Johnsons in training 
and will yet produce a president of that name." 

As to their views of government, they are changing from the 
conservative Republicans to the "Progressives" or even "Radicals/' 
Large numbers are entering the ranks of the Socialists. Socialism 
and political independence is apparently a world symptom, it asserts 
itself in Ireland, France, Germany and Scandinavia. Algernon Lee, in 
the January Metropolitan, 1913, pictures what he calls Progressive 
Scandinavia thus : 

"Good news for Socialist and Suffragists has come from the 
Scandinavian countries. The general election in Norway brought 
defeat to the coalition of Conservatives and so-called Liberals which 
has been in power. Their representation is reduced from seventy-eight 
to twenty-four, that of the Radicals increased from thirty-three to 
seventy -four, and that of the Socialists cast 126,000 votes out of a total 
of 478,000, a gam of 35,000 over their previous record. The Danish 
government has introduced a bill which gives women equal political 
rights with them and reduces the voting age from thirty to twenty-five. 
The bill will be carried with Socialist and Radical support. Iceland, 
which is a Danish dependency, is also to get equal suffrage. 

At an international conference recently held in London, one of 
the Norwegian delegates, Mr. Braekstadt, reported that in his country 
seventy per cent, of the women go to the polls ; that the proportionate 
strength of the parties has not been perce]:)tibly affected by the exten- 
sion of the suffrage to women ; but that the female voters compel atten- 
tion to such social questions as child welfare and the housing of the 
people." 

Continuing the discussion of the conditions "at home." we may say 
that it appears that their liberty loving nature is beginning to assert 
itself in the second generation. The immigrants were obliged, because 
of their ignorance of American politics, to permit leadership, as they 
were trained under a strict government, and hence had acquired a law- 
abiding nature, forbidding opposition or revolt. From "voting cattle" 
to racial socialism is a long step, and whoever takes it, goes from one 
extreme to another extreme, omitting the necessary intermediate steps ; 
that the Scandinavians, to some extent are doing this, is certain, and 
may be the result of the restraint or bondage under which they have 



IN AMERICA 71 

lived for a considerable time. During the last ten years the Americans 
and others in the North Central States have had to endure their clan- 
nishness in every campaign. In 1894 the Minnesota legislature had 
168 members, of which 47 were Scadinavian Republicans. Similar con- 
ditions have continued, but the proportion of Scandinavians is larger. 
Minnesota has had four Scandinavian Governors ; the first being Knute 
Nelson, now United States Senator; the second, John lind, popularly 
called "honest John" ; the third was the late John A. Johnson ; the 
fourth and present Governor is Adolph Eberhardt. Of the four 
Governors mentioned, two were Republicans and two Democrats. 
Their independence in politics is clearly seen in the selection of two 
Democratic Governors in a state which is normally Republican by a 
majority of 125,000 votes or more. Their independence is further seen 
in the fact that the Farmers' Alliance, the People's party, the Populist 
party and the recently organized National Progressive party received 
a very substantial vote in their territory. It is evident from the above 
recited facts that even if we grant they are, as a people. Republican, 
they move about from party to party, thus exhibiting the same char- 
acteristic that is seen in their "vandrelyst" and Viking nature centuries 
ago. 

The patriotism of the Scandinavians, especially the Norwegians, is 
of a peculiar brand, and of a demonstrative and superficial type, — this 
superficiality may also explain the rapid assimilation when emigrating 
to other countries. The so-called language question, which has been 
discussed so ardently for many years in Norway, is a key to their type 
of patriotism. The one side, and which theratens to dominate, con- 
tends that it is not the trait of a loyal Norwegian to retain the present 
Norwegian language, as it is originally Danish, hence they are endeav- 
oring to construct a language of the many "Bonde dialects" throughout 
the rural districts, and thus provide Norway with a language truly 
national. The present Norwegian language of Ibsen and Bjornsen is 
strong and rich in expressions, both in literature and science, and 
should be left undisturbed to the natural growth peculiar to a language. 

The proposed plan, which their patriotism demands for a Nor- 
wegian language is a distinct step backward in the linguistic field and 
would mean the adoption of an inferior and more primitive language, if 



72 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

the term may be applied. American patriotism may with equal propriety 
say "we do not wish to use the English language as it has its home m 
England. We must construct a language which is our own. We will 
go to the original Americans— the Indians, and from their various tribal 
dialects construct an American language, or even better, a "United 
States language.' " The folly of the above is obvious. 

A people loyal to its native country will also become loyal to their 
adopted countr}-. A brief review of the history of American wars, 
Revolutionar}s Civil and Mexican, reveals the fact that numerous 
Northmen were among the brave soldiers who defended their adopted 
land. When the call came for volunteers at the time of the Civil War, 
they responded most willingly, and furnished many thousand men to our 
American army. During the Civil War they were nearly all found in 
the Northern camps, as they resided in that territory. As complete 
details and statistics cannot be given, a few figures will be submitted 
to show their activity and usefulness in the preservation of the Union. 

Martin Ulvestad, in his work entitled "Norm^endene I Amenka," 
gives the following information: Norway has given 3 colonels to our 
American wars; 27 majors; 52 captains; 76 lieutenants; 154 sergeants; 
219 corporals, and 4,042 soldiers. 

The man receiving special mention, was Hans C. Heg, born in 
Norway in 1829, emigrated to America in 1840, and chose Muskogee. 
Wisconsin, as his place of residence. In 1861, the beginning of the 
Civil War, the Governor of Wisconsin appointed Mr. Heg as the 
colonel cf the 15th Wisconsin Regiment. Mr. Heg was killed in the 
battle of Chickamauga. At this place the United States Government 
has erected a monument in his honor, which cost $25,000, the inscription 
is as follows: "Hans C. Heg, Col. of the 15th Wisconsin; Command- 
ing 3rd Brigade. Davis' Division; mortally wounded about 4 P. M., 
September 19, 1863." 

The 15th Wisconsin Regiment (volunteers) was one of the ablest 
regiments in the entire army. It is reported that General Howard said 
of this regiment, "I wish we had a brigade of such men." It v/as 
universally known, as it was ordered from place to place, always to 
the most dangerous borders. The popular name of these valiant 
fighters for the Union was "The Scandinavian Regiment." The above 



IN AMERICA 73 

information as to the activities of the Scandinavians is very brief, but 
is sufficient to establish the fact that they were a factor in our political 
life at the time of our wars. 

The social and cultural influence of the Northmen is not as 
clearly seen as their political influence. Participation in politics and 
state afifairs requires less preparation, as it becomes a part of every 
man's life. The condition of their social and cultural status, though 
manifesting itself at an early date in its native character, has not made 
a visible impression upon the American. When arriving in this country, 
they were obliged to utilize all their time and efforts to establish a 
home. For this reason little time was left for their social side and 
was mostly limited to a narrow circle of fellow immigrants. The 
difficult conditions under which they had to develop, prohibited any 
great activities beyond their daily endeavors to obtain a living. For 
this reason Hterature, mostly descriptive of American conditions, began 
to appear in 1838. The Scandinavians have always recognized that 
the production of Scandinavian literature on American soil, has been 
a minimum. The ability to break and improve the wild prairies, to 
' grub" in our woods and to write books, is not to be found in the same 
man. A further fact may be added, explaining the limited supply of 
literature. The immigrants belonged largely to the laboring class, and 
as a consequence, only a very few had any higher education. The 
number of books and pamphlets published by Norwegians in America, 
up to the year 1907, Martin Ulvestad in his book, '"Normaendene I 
Amerika," gives as 491. 

Valdemar Ager, Editor of "Reform," must be placed at the begin- 
ning of the list. Mr. Ager has written several works which have been 
well received at home and in Norway. Professor R. B. Andersen, 
Editor of "Amerika" has written several works, some appearing 
in the Norwegian and some in the English language ; the Norwegians 
being "Nordisk Mytologi" ; "Amerika Tkke Opdaget af Columbus"; 
"Julegave"; and "Bygdejsevninger." The English works are: "The 
Edda"; "Viking Tales of The North," and the "First Chapter of 
Norwegian Immigration." Attorney J. W. Arctender, of Minneapolis, 
likewise has written several works, the most important being his 
"Praktiske Haandbog I Staten Minnesota's Lovgivning," 625 pages. 
From the pen of A. Asperheim we have "Darvinismen, eller Evolution 



74 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

og Evolutionstheorier." O. M. Nordlie, Ph.D., "A Guide to Literary 
Study." O. N. Nelson, "History of the Scandinavians," 2 vol., and 
R. Andersen, Associate Editor of "Danske I Amerika." To continue 
and enumerate the entire number of books and pamphlets is unneces- 
sary. The above are among the best, and shows a variety of subjects, 
however, the greatest number is by far on religious subjects, and a 
comparatively large supply of hymnals and song books are in the 
market. It is evident that the influence of the Scandinavian American 
literature is very limited beyond their own people. 

As in literature, so in journalism we have a large number of 
papers with a corresponding number of editors, the largest percentage 
of whom are only partially successful. "Nordlyset" was the first Nor- 
wegian paper issued in America, beginning in 1847. From that time 
until 1907, 234 papers have been started, of which about 82 are in 
existence. The total subscribers being approximately 350,000. Their 
papers are generally published in the interest of "news," some par- 
ticipating in the discussion of the political issues. Of the last mentioned, 
there were 17 supporting the Republican party; 2, the Prohibition 
party, and 2, the Socialistic party. It has been stated that, generally 
speaking, Scandinavians were Republicans. It is now noticed that their 
papers are in favor of the Republican party ; the last fact to a certain 
degree accounts for the first. One of the most important Norwegian 
American papers is the "Decorah-Posten," whose owner, B. Amundsen, 
died March 25, 1913. Mr. Amundsen began the publication of his 
paper in 1874; it is published twice a week. Another paper whose 
influence in the political life of the Scandinavians has been greater 
than probably any other factor, is "Skandinaven," a Republican political 
paper. Its publication began in 1866, the owner and editor being John 
Andersen. At first it was a weekly paper, at present it is published 
as a daily with 8 pages, as a Sunday paper, 16 pages, and on Wednes- 
days and Fridays, 12 pages. The Press as the literature, has a large 
percentage of religious publications. 

The Scandinavians do not exercise any great religious influence 
beyond their "own people." The Scandinavians are, with a compar- 
atively few exceptions, Lutherans, and as it is not a practice of the said 
church to proselyte nor to tolerate proselyting, this trait may explain 
why their influence is limited. The books and papers published in the 



IN AMERICA 75 

interest of their religion depend exclusively upon the membership of 
the churches for their support. No attempt is being made to obtain 
subscribers beyond their own creed. Another feature of their religious 
practice is the absence of any endeavor to make their churchly influence 
extend beyond the Scandinavian people. Until recently, their services 
have been conducted in the Scandinavian languages, a condition which 
prevents Aaxiericans from attending their places of worship. During 
the last ten years, however, rapid strides have been made towards the 
adoption of the American language. At the last annual meeting, Th. 
Dahl, D.D., President of the United Lutheran Church of America, the 
largest independent Scandinavian Church body, stated in his annual 
report that with rare exceptions, all churches in the cities or rural 
districts demand a pastor with a nearly perfect command of the 
English language. He further stated that if this present tendency 
continues, it will be only a matter of a very few years before we are 
unable to supply "calls" to a clergyman not familiar with the American 
language. The second generation, being a part of of America in a sense 
which the emigrants could not be, will naturally bring the influence of 
their church to bear on American conditions in a different way than 
what their parents did; hence it is reasonable to expect a greater 
influence of the Church of Scandinavia from now on, than what has 
been evident to this time. 

One of the important means through which the Scandinavians 
have sought to prepare and to keep youth for their church, their 
people, and generally to make good citizens for their adopted land, is 
their schools. The Scandinavians rank high in educational privileges, 
the illiteracy being less than one per cent. Nearly all their schools are 
religious or Church Schools, as they wish to obtain a clergy ("minis- 
try") linguistically qualified to administer to our people in the English 
tongue. The present period is considered a transition period, hence 
schools are so arranged that they give instruction in the American 
and Scandinavian languages. It is likewise one of the chief aims of 
their schools and colleges to train men for the ministry. This they 
appeared to accomplish until recently, but at present they claim that a 
decided change has come over the spirit of the schools, and even the 
church colleges. Dr. Singmatser of Gettysburg, declared that "It 
appears now to be difficult for a young person who is a Christian to 



76 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

pass through the college and remain a Christian. I am always more 
or less concerned about a Christian young man who enters a college, 
as to what effect it will have on his religious life." The reason why 
the colleges have lost comparatively their influence, is attributed to the 
spirit of the times. Religion is taken less seriously by most Christians 
than what it was in past years. Pastor Singmaster, in the United 
Lutheran, Vol. 6, No. 3, says "College professors complain that the boys 
and girls that come from the high schools do not know how to study. 
I wish to say that nine-tenths of the college graduates that come to 
the seminary do not know how to study; they cannot study, for they 
had never learned how." He describes the remedy as putting first things 
first ; i. e., "The body must not be neglected, but must not be oermitted to 
absorb the greatest share of attention. In our Church College there must 
be harmonious development of the whole man. This harmonious develop- 
ment, will, probably, demand the first place for the spiritual, the second, 
for the intellectual, and the third for the material. No young man or 
woman should be permitted to go from the college without being a 
Christian, if it is at all possible to make them such." It is a contention 
of the Scandinavian Lutheran Church that the state and the church 
need men and women who have a right heart and a right spirit. 
There is no greater need upon us as a nation with a great destiny, 
than citizens whose hearts and lives are touched with fire from the 
sacred altar of God Himself. The training and education of the 
millions of boys and girls in the love and fear of God is considered 
as the basic question, the trusts and the tariff are secondary. United 
Lutheran, Vol. 5, No. 39, page 616 — "The moment you dethrone God 
in the mind of the child and teach it that there is no God whom it 
must fear, love and trust above all things ; the moment you teach a 
child and the youth that the universe is run by a Nondescript Force 
or Energy, and that the Source and all known, is not a personal God 
but an original cell or a protoplasm or nebula, out of which all things 
have evolved and developed, that moment you are doing the work of 
an anarchist; you are trying to blow up not only the Church, but the 
State as well." It is recognized that native Americans have great 
respect for true religion. "It is only the spurious and the hypocritical 
that he hates. . . . Leading and thinking Americans rejoice in 
every school, great or small, which installs religion pure and undefiled." 



IN AMERICA 



77 



Their schools are made attractive. Professors are employed during 
their summer vacations to travel and plead the cause of the schools 
throughout the communities. Liberal support of the schools is strongly 
urged and endowment funds are being raised, and every attempt is 
made to have them placed on a sound basis ; to make the schools more 
attractive, rates are very low. The following is an estimate of the 
expense for a school year, as prepared by Professor J. N. Kildahl, D.D., 
President of St. Olaf 's College, Northfield, Minnesota : 

Low Average Liberal 

estimate. estimate. estimate. 

1. Board $90.00 $90.00-$105.00 $125.00 

2. Room rent 18.00 26.00 36.00- $45.00 

3. Tuition 36.00 36.00 36.00 

4. Incidentals 10.00 10.00 10.00 

5. Gymnasium fee 4.00 4.00 4.00 

6. Library fee 1.00 1.00 1.00 

7. Books and school supplies 16.00 20.00 25.00 

8. Laundry 15.00 20.00 25.00 

9. Athletics 2.50 10.00 15.00 

10. Society and class dues 1.00 3.00 5.00 

11. Concert, lecture and other tickets.... 2.50 4.00 6.00 

12. Church dues and collections 2.00 3.00 5.00 

13. Extra furniture and room decorations 6.00 10.00 

14. Social affairs 2.00 5.00 

15. Incidental expenses and spending 

money 10.00 25.00 50.00 

$208.00 $260.00-$275.00 $358.004367.00 

16. Clothing 40.00 60.00 100.00 



$248.00 $320.00-$335.00 $458.00-$467.00 

To the above should be added laboratory fees, which come to $8.00 
annually for Chemistry, $6.00 for Biology, $5.00 for Physics, and $2.00 
for Botany. 

The schools with their curriculums may be classified as follows : 
Normal Schools and Teachers' Seminaries: Algebra, Arithmetic, Bible 
History, Bible-Study, Bookkeeping, Botany, English Literature, United 
States History, Physiology, Geography, Geometry, Grammar, Cate- 
chetics. Church History, Reading, Music, Natural Philosophy, History 



78 



SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 



of Norway, Norwegian, Pedagogy, Civil Government, Religion, Rhet- 
oric, Singing, Art Writing, Spelling, Symbolics, Ethics, General 
History. 

Academies: Algebra, Arithmetic, Civil Government, English, 
United States History, Physics, Geography (Political and Physical), 
Geometry, Grammar, Latin, History of Norway, Norwegian, Pedagogy, 
Calculation, Religion, Penmanship, Ethics, German, General History, 
Economics. 

Business Schools: Bookkeeping, Commercial Law, Theory and 
Practice (in various branches) Grammar, Correspondence, Civil Gov- 
ernment, Penmanship, Spelling, Punctuation, Stenography, Typewriting, 

Colleges: Algebra, Arithmetic, Bookkeeping, Civil Government, 
Botany, English, United States History, French, Physics, Physiology, 
Geography, Geometry, Grammar, Greek, Hebrew, Chemistry, Latin, 
Mathematics, Music, History of Norway, Norwegian, Religion, Singing, 
Penmanship, Drawing, German, Ancient and Modern History, Soci- 
ology, Psychology. 

Seminaries: Dogmatics, Old Testament, Hebrew, Church History, 
Liturgy, New Testament, Pastoral-Theology, Preaching (Norwegian 
and English), Symbolics, Ethics, Apologetics, Hermeneutics, Propae- 
deutics. 

Below is a table giving the year of founding, and a summary of 
statistics of the various schools for the year 1912, of Norwegian 

Lutheran institutions as prepared by Dr. O. M. Nordlie : 



o 

Theological Seminaries. *§ 

s 

United Church Seminary 1893 

Luther Seminary 1876 

Red Wing Seminary 1870 

Augsburg Seminary 1869 

Wahpeton Bible School (see below) 1903 

Total 



gc5 



330 
437 

372 



pa 3 

o 



19 

21 

9 

8 



•o 

a 



87 
53 
28 
29 



10 
5 
3 

4 



1,137 



57 



197 



22 



IN AMERICA 79 



Normal Schools. 

Madison Lutheran Normal 1892 274 32 153 8 

Sioux Falls Lutheran Normal 1889 250 14 202 10 



Total 524 46 355 18 

Colleges. 

St. Olaf College 1886 

Augustana College 1860 

Concordia College 1891 

Spokane College 1907 

Luther College 1861 

Park Region Luther College 1892 

Red Wing Ladies' Seminary 1894 

Red Wing Seminary 1879 

Augsburg Seminary 1869 



393 


43 


261 


32 


2 




8 




? 


9 


7 




615 


12 


107 


18 


3 


3 


25 




2 




9 




9 


10 


43 


11 


224 


9 


53 


11 



Total 1,239 77 506 72 

Academies. 

Augustana College 1860 

Camrose College 1911 

Columbia College 1909 

Concordia College 1891 

Pleasant View Lutheran College 1896 

St. Olaf College Academy 1874 

Scandinavia Academy 1890 

Spokane College 1907 

Waldorf College 1903 

Bruflat Academy 1889 

Clifton Lutheran College 1896 

Gale College 1901 

Luther Academy 1888 

Luther College Academy 1861 

Northwestern College 1910 

Pacific Lutheran Academy 1894 

Park Region Lutheran College 1892 

Preus Academy 1901 

Red Wing Ladies' Seminary 1894 

Willmar Seminary 1882 

Wittenberg Academy 1901 

Jewell College 1893 



328 


37 


208 


11 




9 


91 


? 


24 


6 


86 


10 


315 


20 


280 


16 


213 


16 


104 


6 


557 


41 


258 




276 


18 


103 


6 


? 


9 


9 


18 


237 


37 


291 


11 


112 


21 


95 


5 


24 


7 


82 


5 


143 


19 


78 


6 


9 


9 


9 


7 


9 


10 


107 




1 


1 


56 


3 


160 


14 


176 


8 


300 


24 


178 


15 


107 


7 


60 


6 


286 


40 


157 


24 


400 


23 


165 


6 


145 


15 


124 


5 


174 


16 


178 


12 



80 



SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 



Red Wing Seminary 1879 ? 13 69 

Augsburg Seminary 1869 367 9 81 

Bethania College 1904 30 6 87 8 

Oak Grove Ladies' Seminary 1896 32 9 90 7 

Wahpeton Bible School 1903 24 6 58 4 



Total 



United Church Schools (11). 

Norwegian Synod Schools. . (14) .. . 

Hauges Synod Schools ( 2)... 

Free Church Schools ( 3)... 

Eielsen Synod Schools ( 0) . . . 

Brethren Synod Schools. ... ( 1)... 



4,355 

3,049 

2,985 

174 

1,025 

24 



415 3,262 



269 

231 

48 

41 



1,930 

1,674 

318 

340 

58 



199 

128 

123 

26 

30 



Total 7,257 595 4,270 311 

The estimated cost for a school year, as was seen on the previous 
page, is very low. It is common to judge the quality of an article by 
the price paid for it. If the quality of the schools are based upon the 
estimated cost, we should not hope to find the Scandinavian schools 
in the first class. The cost stated for a school year, including clothing, 
varied from $248 to $467, does not cover the actual expense for the 
maintenance of a college. The deficit is covered by an appropriation 
from the Church body to which the school may belong, or if not 
belonging to a church organization, the deficit is provided by special 
contributions. The two sources, however, combined, the receipts from 
students and the appropriations, are generally reduced to the minimum, 
leaving hardships to the various institutions ; this being true, the 
equipments are often far from complete ; as it is necessary to economize 
in the equipment, so it is necessary to engage teachers at the lowest 
possible salary, and as a man's charity cannot continue to sacrifice the 
necessaries of life for any length of time, the result is frequent changes 
in the faculty, only a very few being sufficiently paid to continue at 
their post. Another feature in the selection of teachers, is, that teaching 
qualifications are often sacrificed for other qualities which, in the 
opinion of a lay board, may be more necessary. For this reason there 
are not many experts found in the various departments of their colleges. 
A further handicap to the instructor is the fact that he may be obliged 
to teach in two or more separate departments. During the last ten 



IN AMERICA 81 

years the Scandinavian colleges have made great progress, the second 
generation having been trained in the American colleges and univer- 
sities, often return to the schools of their church, advocating American 
university methods. Another decade will surely further enhance their 
efficiency. 

The Scandinavians, in addition to their schools, have a large num- 
ber of charitable institutions, usually under the control of their various 
church I'arties, it being their desire to administer to their members 
both to body and soul. 

A statistical report of the Norwegian Lutheran Benevolent Institu- 
tions as prepared by Dr. Nordlie is herewith appended: 



Deaconess Homes. 



§ ^ W)^ d ii 

o cmO "♦.(Oj <-!-<'"' "^-3 "ii 

O^ O"" O- —-rt " 

Chicago, 111 1879 23 51 10 75 . . . . 

Minneapolis, Minn 1890 9 28 2 16 ... . 

Brooklyn, N. Y 1884 18 13 5 36 

Hospitals. 

Deaconess, Chicago, 111 1897 23 51 10 75 1,605 

St. John's, Sioux City, la 11 .... .... 377 

St. Olaf, Austin, Minn 1896 .... 7 3 .... 327 

Bethesda, Crookston, Minn 1898 2 10 2 6 247 

St. Luke's, Fergus Fails, Minn.... 1903 1 14 6 11 400 

Heron Lake, Minn 1903 .... 12 5 .... 1,000 

Ebenezer, Madison, Minn 1902 1 6 .... .... 426 

Deaconess, Minneapolis, Minn. ... 1890 9 28 2 16 1,354 

Thomas, Minneapolis, Minn 1907 .... 11 .... .... 214 

Luther, St. Paul, Minn 1902 .... 16 4 33 729 

Deaconess, Brooklyn, N. Y 1884 18 13 5 36 1,425 

St. Luke's, Fargo, N. D 1905 3 25 6 16 776 

Deaconess, Grafton, N. D 1903 .... .... 

Deaconess, Grand Forks, N. D. .. 1891 1 ? ? ? 523 

Deaconess, North wood, N. D 1902 1 5 5 10 411 

Good Samaritan, Rugby, N. D.... 1910 .... 10 383 

Lutheran, Sioux Falls, S. D 16 7 40 550 

Luther, Eau Claire, Wis 1907 2 20 4 10 646 

Lutheran, La Crosse, Wis 1902 .... 35 7 43 2.670 



82 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

Orphanages, as follows: 

Year No. of 

Opened Inmates, 

Norwegian Lutheran, Chicago, 111 1891 .... 

Evangelical Lutheran Receiving Home, Chicago.. 1905 .... 

Beloit, Wis 1890 164 

Lake Park, Minn 1895 102 

Wild Rice, Twin Valley, Minn 1891 

Bethesda, Willmar, Minn 1898 50 

Bethesda, Beresford, S. D 1896 51 

Parkland, Wash 1900 

Martha and Maria, Poulsbo, Wash 1892 

Martin Luther, Stoughton, Wash 1889 

Homme, Wittenberg, Wis 1880 11 

Brevig, Port Clarence, Alaska 1900 .... 

Homes for the Aged, as follows: 

Norwegian Old People's, Chicago, 111 1896 .... 

Bethesda, Willmar, Minn 1905 15 

Northwood, N. D 1910 11 

Poulsbo, Wash .... 

Josephine, Stanwood, Wash .... .... 

Stoughton, Wis 1889 .... 

Homme, Wittenberg, Wis 1880 42 

Lutheran Hospice for Women, at — 

Minneapolis, Minn 1907 .... 

Rescue Shelter — 

Martha Maria Mission Home, St. Paul 1908 

Slum Mission, at — 

Brooklyn, N. Y 

Immigrant and Seamen's Missions, at — 

Brooklyn, N. Y 1890 

New York, N. Y 1905 

New York, N. Y 1866 

Galveston, Texas 1911 .... 

The data given relative to the schools and benevolent institutions 
cover only those under the jurisdiction of the Norwegian Lutheran 
Church bodies. It is deemed unnecessary to add any further statistics. 
as those of the Swedes and Danes would largely be a duplication. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Probable Influence on Future Making of the "American Race" 

Through Immigrants in General and Through 

Scandinavians in Particular 

It has been argued at some length in a former chapter that the 
American nation is yet in its "making." The formative process is in 
progress and not completed. A great variety of individuals comprising 
our nation, from the American Indian to the lowest of the immigrants, 
claim a right to protection under the "Stars and Stripes." True, many 
of the immigrants may continue to show honor to the flag of their 
"native land," but America guarantees its foster sons and daughter 
"life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." What the foster children 
have given in return for this guarantee is not easily ascertained from 
the cultural standpoint. Considered from the agricultural and political 
sides, more definite figures are obtainable, showing their achievements 
in these lines. 

A history analyzing the American culture has not yet been written, 
hence the contribution of our various nationalities, as mentioned, is not 
distinctly seen. America has been obliged to work out its own salva- 
tion, as it has been forced to contend with the assimilation of the 
undesirables from foreign countries. "The dumping ground," as the 
United States is often considered, has until recentl)'- made only a limited 
selection. It has accepted the good and the bad, and endeavors to 
make the best out of them and fit them into the American conditions. 
If we are to accept the perverted and the criminals as representatives 
of the culture of their countries, we fail to obtain the true kind of 
culture found in the people represented by these classes. It is often 
said that crime knows no creed nor nationality — examples, the con- 
stituency in the recent police scandals — ^this being true, we can 
understand why foreign traits are not more easily discernable in our 
American characteristics. It may appear from the above that the 

83 



84 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

immigrants belong exclusively to the undesirable classes, a fact which 
could not be sustained. However, it is true that a large percentage 
of the immigrants belong to the less desirable classes; especially was 
this true until recent years when immigration laws have become more 
rigid and exclude many which formerly were accepted. This means a 
change in our immigrants. If we consider that hitherto we have 
received the "unfittest," we may state that we are now by selection 
admitting the "fittest." That this must have an effect upon the 
American nation cannot be denied. The raising of the standard brings 
a better class of immigrants to our shores from their respective foreign 
countries. People now emigrate, not to escape punishment, but because 
they seek something better; the different qualities and the two kinds 
will bring dififerent results to their adopted land. If we were to 
compare the immigrant classes of to-day with those of ten years or 
more ago, on a basis of nationalities, we would be compelled to state 
that the nations emigrating to our shores at present represent a lower 
class. In the argument, however, just discussed, the classification was 
based on higher or lower types of individuals belonging to the same 
nation. The fact is, then, that we receive better immigrants from all 
nations to-day than formerly, also that we receive more immigrants from 
countries of southern Europe universally accepted as inferior to those 
of Northern Europe and who furnished the mass of immigrants until 
recent years. The effect of this change — the selection of the fittest, but 
generally of the lower type, is hard to forecast. It is a new paragraph 
of new conditions to be written in the American history; as yet it is 
unwritten. The number of immigrants has on the whole been increas- 
ing, although the last two or three years show a slight decrease. In 
endeavoring to establish the influence of present immigration, the char- 
acter of the number of immigrants must be considered. Another factor 
connected with the influence of immigration, is the present condition of 
America. If it is more receptive than formerly, a greater impress will 
be made by the foreign factor. On the other hand, if it is more stable, 
it will be less susceptible. Granting that the latter is the condition, 
we may draw the conclusion that the assimilating power of our 
country to-day is greater than formerly, and the influence of the immi- 
grant less noticeable. We must not infer that the immigrant and the 
American conditions, however, are such that the influence is eliminated. 



IN AMERICA 85 

Every human being is a factor and must be counted in the make-up of 
society. As he mingles with fellow men he becomes a social force. 
This being true, if we have the welfare of future society at heart in our 
country, we should continue the selective process as to our immigrants. 
The greater the number, the greater the force, hence reduce the number 
of the undesirables, believing that all countries have some good to be 
imparted and inculcated into American society, let us raise the standard 
for admission, as by so doing we again eliminate the unfit and select 
the fittest. 

In the mass of immigrants coming to our country subject to the 
conditions just mentioned, we have the Scandinavians. That their 
•nfiuence on the cultural life of America can be large, is not to be 
expected for various reasons, the first being the general reason above 
stated ; namely, that American conditions are more firmly established ; 
the second reason is that they Americanize too rapidly and hence cease 
to be an independent social force too soon ; the third reason is that we 
receive numerically a far less number per year from Scandinavian 
countries than formerly. The reason for this being that conditions in 
.Scandinavian countries have improved and offer more opportunities, and 
the conditions in America have become less favorable to the immigrant, 
hence little is gained by the Scandinavian who comes to our country. 

The Scandinavian activities in the North Central States is exten- 
sive. They aim to build securely and establish such landmarks in their 
path as shall not be easily destroyed. Their greatest activity is found 
in the agricultural districts, as they have turned the former wild prairies 
mto veritable gardens. This manner of showing their influence is 
lasting, but their influence is established in other directions. In 
several states, monuments have been raised in honor of their noted men. 
In Fargo, North Dakota, we have a statue of Henrik Vergeland; in 
Moorehead, Minneosta, a "Bauta" stone was raised last summer to the 
sacred memory of Hans Nielsen Hauge. On the grounds of the 
Agricultural College, a department of the University at North Dakota, 
is found another "Bauta" stone to Bjornstjerne Bjornsen, This "Bauta" 
on the University campus proclaims the fervor of Norse patriotism to 
the thousand students who annually gather at this place. Last summer 
there was placed in the park of the Great Northern Railroad at Fargo, 
a statue of Rollo, the Viking, the founder of Normandy, of Norman 



86 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

prowess and chivalry; "Rollo, the legislator of his nation; the father 
of his people and the proud progenitor of warriors and statesmen." 
And last to be mentioned we have the staute of Ole Bull, the violinist, 
standing in Central Park, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Several more 
might be mentioned; the above serves to show that the ideals of tht«r 
great men are not left behind, but brought to this country; hence the 
building of statues and monuments to preach the same cause in a 
strange land. How powerful the message of these silent figures may 
be, cannot be stated, but surely they make an impress upon the youth 
of America. 

Another fact which shows a racial trait, is the present endeavor of 
the Norwegians in America to raise a "Million Dollar Fund" to present 
to Norway next year. The occasion being the centennial year of the 
independence of Norway, having obtained this on May 17, 1814. In 
North Dakota, where the Scandinavians are well represented, and 
where they have a large constituency in the state legislature, it was 
passed at the recent session of the Legislature to appropriate $10,000 
for a state building at the centennial in Christiania next year. That 
such an act is possible, without society being well saturated with the 
Scandinavian spirit, is hardly conceivable. It may also be added that 
the recommendation to the Legislature, urging this appropriation was 
made by the Governor of the State, L. B. Hanna, a relative of the late 
Mark Hanna. If the Governor had not been subject to the influence 
of the Norwegians, he would not have made this recommendation. 
Minnesota is at present discussing following the example of North 
Dakota. 

In the above mentioned states, the Scandinavians control a large 
number of votes, as their love of land ownership hastens naturalization. 
Professor Babcock, of the University of Minnesota, says : "To take up 
homestead claims, one of the first conditions for a foreigner is a 
declaration of intention to become a citizen. So the prospective farmer 
\t once takes out his first papers and the first step in naturalization is 
made. This done, natural inclination leads him to perfect his title to 
full citizenship." 

Professor Babcock further states, that : "They come not to destroy 
our institutions, but to build them up by adopting them. They come 
from countries not potent or glorious in European afifairs, and there- 



IN AMERICA 87 

fore the more readily denationalize themselves, that they may become 
entirely American. The most of them are plain, common people, strong, 
sturdy, and independent, required to unlearn little, ready and able to 
learn much and learn it well. They have the same still powers of 
adaptability and assimilation that made Rollo and his Northmen such 
good Frenchmen, and Guthrun and his Danes such excellent English- 
men; and using these powers among us to-day, they are, or are rapidly 
becoming, irreproachably and unimpeachably American." It is evident 
and gratifying to the Scandinavians that they are beginning to con- 
tribute more to American culture. They have not often forgotten the 
fact that they have a great history and have made, and are making, 
splendid contributions to the art, literature and science of government 
of continental Europe and thus indirectly of America. Such names as 
Ibsen, Bjornsen, Rydberg, Strindberg, Gryndtberg and Brandes, as they 
have appeared in American magazines, have suggested that the Scan- 
dinavian people were capable of raising up men of gigantic intellectual 
proportions ; such men have not been raised by their descendants who 
have emigrated to American shores, nor have they been found in 
person as a social force in the large Scandinavian settlements of the 
Northwest. 

The people of Northern Europe, generally considered the purest 
stock of the Teutonic race, have great similarities. For this reason, 
even though we may speak of special characteristics of the different 
Teutonic races, which are truly found in a broad sense, the character- 
istics of the same nations composing the Teutonic race are very 
similar, so that at the present stage of amalgamation in American 
society, we might easily speak of Teutonic characteristics and Teutonic 
influence, including in this class, the Germans, Scandinavians, English 
and Scotch. Professor Julius Olsen of the State University of Wis- 
consin, in an address delivered on the occasion of the unveiling of a 
statue of Rollo of Normandy, at Fargo, North Dakota, July 12th, 1912, 
in this connection said: "In the first place, then. Northern Europe is 
the home of the Teuton. As a physical product he has sprung from 
the soil, so to speak. Northern and Central Europe was his by right 
of primitive possession. It was his playground and battlefield that he 
had a right to control." Until the last decade, the portion of Europe 
mentioned by Professor Olsen furnished by far the greatest number of 



88 SCANDINAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

our immigrants. The people of Southern Europe in whatever relation 
they may formerly have been to the Teutonic race, they have lived 
apart from them long enough to fomi a distinct race type. Of recent 
years this racial t\"pe enters our land in large numbers, and conse- 
quently will play its part as a social factor, but as the Scandinavians 
belong to the former type mentioned, the Teutonic, their characteristics 
alone will be considered in our discussion. In the same address 
Professor Olsen beautifully describes the achievements of the Teutons : 
"Their vital energy and power of physical expansion, has been startlingly 
tremendous for centur}- after centur}-. tribe after tribe, swarm over all 
Europe, lending to even*' nation with which they came into contact. 
Northern blood and Northern spirit. They have colonized America. 
Australia. South Africa and many Islands of the Seas, and ruled vast 
territories in Asia. They have been driven forward by an irresistible 
impulse that brooks no opposition, counts no obstacle. The two poles 
mark the compass of their conquest. Pear}- and Amundsen, one an 
American, the other a Norseman, are the advance guards to-day with 
no more poles to conquer." 

What. then, is the Teutonic spirit? It is a physical and intellectual 
and moral quality ; the physical and intellectual was well expressed in 
the ahove quotation. Aristotle says: "Some men are by nature free 
and others, slaves." By this he means that some men have the 
capacity for freedom, and this may be considered one of the character- 
istics of the Teutonic tribes, the capacity for freedom. Freedom in this 
sense supposes physical, intellectual and spiritual power. It means free 
action, with the sense of responsibility- to governing power. From 
societv's point of view, this governing power is the State. It may be 
noted in this connection that the states founded by the Teutons, and 
for the very reason of this characteristic, have proved to be the most 
enduring and powerful in the world : France, Germany. England 

Another trait of these people is the Teutonic quality- of loyalty. 
This loyalt}- rests on the foundation of "free self-determination." The 
last sentiment is aptly expressed by Shakespeare in Hamlet, the great 
Teutonic tragedy, he said : 

"To thine own self be true. 

And it must follows as the night, the day. 

Thou canst not then be false to anv man." 



IN AMERICA 

Goethe, "It was the Teutonic races who first introduced into the 
world the idea of personal independence." It has been the continued 
combat of the Teutons to exemplify to the world this independence. 
As Ripley locates the purest Teutons of to-day in Norway, we can 
clearly see why this spirit is so predominant within the bosom of 
nearly every Norwegian and his kindred nations, the Swedes and the 
Danes. To further continue and elaborate upon the traits of the Teu- 
tons and the Scandinavians, is unnecessary. Americanism, politically, 
socially and morally and largely religiously, shows the stamp of the 
Teutonic spirit. The religious side has not in this thesis been much 
discussed in this broad sense. Woodruff claims in his book, "The 
Effects of Tropical Light on White Man," that it is a distinct char- 
acteristic of the blondes to adhere to the Protestant Church and for 
the brunettes to adhere to the Roman Catholic Church. The blondes, 
in his opinion, are born leaders and rulers, whereas the brunettes wish 
to be led. If this be true, as we have reason to believe, the future 
condition of the religious side of America as influenced by immigrants, 
will largely depend upon whether these are blondes or brunettes. 

This mark of distinction, blondes or brunettes, has its significance 
in a different line. Professor Starr, of the University of Chicago, advo- 
cates the theory of the climatic unfitness of the United States, and he 
argues that we are drifting, by natural selection, to the Indian type ; i. e., 
the brunette. This result being the logical consequence of nature 
eliminating the unfit and selecting the fittest. As Scandinavians are the 
truest representative of the blondes, we may expect to notice this effect 
of climatic conditions in America upon them sooner and in a larger 
degree than upon others belonging to the Teutonic tribe. According 
to Woodruff, "The Effects of Tropical Light on White Man," p. 283, 
this is the case. He ascribes the racial decay of the Norwegians after 
some years' residence in the Northwest, as being due to the excessive 
light of these countries against which they have no defence. In the 
second generation there is loss of btioyancy and elasticity of gait ; the 
hair becomes dry, digestive disturbances and constipation become 
common. Tuberculosis, rheumatism and various other disturbances are 
manifest. The cause he ascribes to the change of environment. As to 
the prevalence of tuberculosis among American Scandinavians, the 
question may be raised, that it is very common is true, but it must 



SCANDlxMAVIANS AS A SOCIAL FORCE 

also be remembered that in the Scandinavian countries it is claimed 
that one out of every four suffers from tuberculosis. In spite of this, 
vje have the fact to face that the Scandinavians have the greatest 
average length of life of any nation. According to Dr. Binder, the aver- 
age is 51^ years. What has been described as applying to Nor- 
wegians and Scandinavians in particular, may also be applied to other 
Europeans who have lived in similar environments, and Dr. Woodruff : 
"Whether adjustment is possible in such a great change of environ- 
ments is problematical." This discussion might be continued at great 
length, but the further we go, the more vague becomes the future condi- 
tion of our country, hence we shall leave to history the pleasure of 
recording the facts of actual conditions. That there are many social 
forces at work in our United States is evident : that their efforts will 
ultimately result in a still greater nation than we have at present, is 
even more to be desired. 



(5 
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